War and Serenity

By Michael Weyer

Apologies for the overlong delay, tied up with real life and other fanfics but trying to get back on track with this.

Not So Scenic Stop

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Luke winced as Simon finished the bandage on his shoulder. "There we go," the doctor said, backing up. "Not as good as a bacta tank but it should hold you well."

"Thanks," Luke said, bending his arm about to test it. Leia was nearby, concern obvious on her face as Simon pout his instruments away. "It wasn't that bad a wound."

"That is true," Simon noted. "I've had to deal with quite a few injuries far worse with this crew."

Leia nodded as she stepped back. "Since Luke's okay, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to help Han eviscerate your captain."

"Have fun," Simon said in what actually seemed a bright tone. Leia nodded as she left and Luke began to sit up. "Here now, take it easy," Simon urged.

"Just making room for Reynolds," Luke said. "He's going to need it more than I will."

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Leia entered the cockpit, ready to erupt at the bastard who was behind this crew but stopped at the scene before her. Han had Reynolds pressed against the side of the cockpit, his blaster held under the man's chin. He wasn't moving, however, as Zoe was holding her shotgun to the back of his head. She herself was being kept from pulling the trigger by Chewbacca aiming his crossbow at her own head. Wash simply sat in the pilot's chair with an expression wishing he were anywhere else right now but unable to avoid this unique tableau.

"We hired you just to give us a ride, Reynolds, that's all," Han was saying through gritted teeth. "Not get us involved in some crazy smuggling deal."

"You'll be wanting to let go of my shirt, Solo," Mal snapped.

"You should, it's his only good one," Wash piped in.

Han pushed Mal further on the wall. This made Zoe cock her blaster carefully which in turn made Chewbacca tighten his finger on the trigger of his bow caster. Leia realized that if someone had the bad timing to sneeze, it was liable to set off a very interesting chain reaction.

"If the kid was dead, we'd be having a very different conversation right now," Han snarled. "One that would actually not involve a lot of talking."

"I think right now it's best you remember this ain't your boat, Solo," Mal calmly said. "I don't suppose you're always playing by the rules with yours."

Leia had to concede the point but felt the need to defend her allies. "At least Han doesn't pull jobs without telling anyone."

"Forgive me for not being as cordial as he," Mal stated. The man appeared entirely non-plussed at the fact Han had a blaster ready to fire or the tense circumstances around him. Yet Leia was sure he was ready to fight if the moment presented itself. She reminded him quite a lot of Han…but even more reckless, if that was possible.

Zoe kept her blaster steady on Han's head even as Chewbacca pressed his bow caster against her. "Sir, I do believe this discussion isn't really going anywhere productive."

"Yeah, Mal, maybe we should all just calm down and put the guns away," Wash said.

"Not your affair, Wash," Mal said.

"Yeah but if you all shoot each other, that'll leave Jayne in charge of the ship and I don't think you want that."

Mal glanced at him. "Zoe, I know I don't say this a lot but your husband's logic is correct."

"He has his moments, sir."

Mal looked at Han. "How about we make the pilot's mental health a bit easier, Solo and lower the weapons for now?"

Han narrowed his eyes. "You're not talking your way out of this, Reynolds."

"You're the one with the eight foot tall mammoth, Solo. I think that gives you a slight edge in the non-guns category."

Han glanced over his shoulder, past Zoe's gun and at Chewbacca. The Wookie cocked his head and gave a small grumble of agreement. Slowly, Han stepped back, lowering his blaster. Zoe waited until it was in his holster before letting her shotgun drop. Chewbacca also backed up, lowering his own bow caster as Leia let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, now that's settled…" Mal began just before Leia's hand slapped across his face. He stumbled back and found himself glared at by a pair of steely eyes. "If you even think of pulling something like this again while we're on this ship," Leia hissed. "I'm going to make you wish Han had pulled that trigger."

Mal appeared rather non-plussed at her anger, actually smirking. "Looks like you got a real firecracker, Solo."

"We're not together!" the two said in unison.

Mal smirked. "Right. Anyhow, we've got a clear line to Corellia, should be there in a couple of hours so we can get you all off…"

"Um…Captain?" Kaylee stuck her head into the cockpit, not seeming to notice the tension.

"Not the best time, Kaylee," Mal said.

"Ah, kinda thought it'd be important to know that the hyper drive is leaking."

Mal closed his eyes as if pained. "Right…how long till…"

There was a loud rumble as the entire ship shook. Wash whirled around in his chair as he looked out the window and saw the streaks of hyperspace fading and replaced by the normal field of stars.

"Um, about now, Captain?" Kaylee nervously chirped.

Mal rubbed his head in a fashion Zoe was long used to seeing. "All right then…Wash, find us the nearest port to settle down so we can make repairs. Zoe, tell Jayne to get that crate ready, we're gonna need to offload it fast for payment."

Wash quickly keyed up the nav-computer. "Hmmm…not too much out there right now, Captain. Except…" He frowned. "Hmmm…Bespin."

"Bespin?" Han frowned as he leaned in over Wash's shoulder, hitting some keys. "I'll be damned….Lando."

"Lando?" Mal asked with disbelief.

"Lando?" Zoe asked with a flicker of recognition.

"Lando?" Leia frowned. "I don't know that system."

"Not a system, a man," Han said. "Lando Calrissian. Old buddy of mine, we go way back."

"Really?" Mal said with obvious doubt. "Last I heard, he wanted to kill you."

"Sounds pretty common for Han's friends," Leia muttered.

Wash was checking the computer. "Seems like he's Baron Administrator of some place called Cloud City."

Zoe's eyebrows went up at that. "Don't tell me he actually got himself a decent line of work."

"Nah, he conned it out of someone," Han informed her. "He can give us some shelter."

"Can we trust him?" Leia asked.

"About as much as us," Mal said.

"Not a sterling recommendation," Leia noted.

Mal sighed. "I don't like it either but we don't have many options. Wash, plot a course and get us there fast as you can. We can make some repairs there."

"You can let us out too," Leia declared.

That got her some surprised looks, including from Han. "We'll take our chances getting another flight. The last thing I want is to take another trip on this crazy ship."

Han nodded. "Maybe we can get a message out, have Rogue Squadron arrange a pickup."

"What about our money?" Mal instantly snapped, his face hard. "I don't like being welshed on a deal, Solo! You promised us a full pay!"

Leia stared at him in disbelief. "You dragged us on a smuggling mission and got Luke shot!"

"All right, I'll take half then," Mal shrugged. He raised an eyebrow. "Unless you want us to start talking about how your buddy back there carries a light saber around."

In a flash, Han had his blaster once more aimed right at Mal's face.

"On the other hand, we can settle on twenty-five percent and call it even," Mal added, his voice not changing its tenor a bit.

"Your negotiation tactics never cease to astound, sir," Zoe noted.

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"I'm just saying," Jayne was beginning as he pushed the crate toward the center of the hold. "If I had a couple of grenades…"

"Violence isn't the solution to everything, Jayne," Sheppard said as he watched.

"It does good until a better option comes along," the mercenary shrugged.

Threepio gave a shake of his torso. "I abhor all this violence. I simply cannot wait to be free of it all."

"Than you've got a long wait, droid," Jayne sniffed. "Ain't no escaping violence wherever you may be. Hell, why would you want to? Makes life damn dull."

"It also makes it longer," Book noted. "I would think you would appreciate that, Jayne. Why waste all the booze and women you could still enjoy over the years?"

Jayne smiled. "Preacher…every now and then, you actually make sense."

Book seemed to roll his eyes before seeing Luke coming down the stairway, rubbing his shoulder. "Are you all right, young man?"

"Getting there," Luke said. "I hear we need to make a stop for repairs?"

"And getting you off this ship," Jayne said.

"Oh, thank the Maker!" Threepio declared. "Finally some safety and refugee."

"I'm sure it won't be that hard finding a new charter," Luke said. "For the record, I don't blame you totally for what happened."

"Very forward thinking of you," Book noted. He was about to say more when the ship shook. Everyone looked about in confusion before the loudspeaker boomed. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. We are experiencing some, ah, turbulence coming to Cloud City. Please be advised to hang tight as I hope from the bottom of my still-beating heart to have us landed safely soon."

Luke frowned as he signed off. "Is there much turbulence on Bespin?"

The ship shook again with a sound Luke recognized as he realized exactly what "turbulence" this was.

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Mal grit his teeth as a series of blaster bolts flew past Serenity. "I am charging you if they mess my ship up, Solo," he snapped.

Han was ignoring him, leaning over Wash's shoulder to speak into the communicator. "Listen, tell Lando that Han Solo is here to see him!"

"I thought you said you knew this man," Leia complained.

Chewbacca let out a series of grunts and Han blanched. "Come on, that was years ago, I'm sure he's forgotten all about it by now."

"Forgotten about what?" Leia demanded, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What are you getting us into now, Han?"

Mal chuckled. "Guess Lando's still mad about that deal, huh?"

Zoe coughed. "Ah, sir, are you forgetting that Naboo run?" Mal's face instantly fell, causing Han to smile a bit.

Wash saw a flashing on the control panel. "Looks like they're letting us land, boss."

"Set her down easy," Mal nodded as he turned to Zoe. "Let Jayne know to keep Vera on board and try to have Kaylee slightly presentable."

"What about Inara?" Zoe asked. "She could help the deal work better."

Mal nodded. "Yeah, Lando always was a sucker for charm and she has that and if any of you tell her I complimented her, you're cleaning the latrines out."

"We kinda need to do that anyhow, Mal," Wash said.

"Shut up, Wash."

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Cloud City was an amazing sight. Hanging in the clouds above Bespin, it was a huge saucer with the buildings atop it, a long central stalk hanging from the bottom and ending in a small pod. The buildings were as brilliant as any inner core world, gleaming in the afternoon light as Serenity flew about toward an empty landing pad. It settled in, the ramp slowly lowering to disgorge the crew and passengers.

"Just keep it nice and friendly," Mal said as he took the lead, Han following him. "No need to be upsetting folks here."

"Sure Calrissian knows that, sir?" Zoe asked.

They saw a small group waiting by the doorway at the opposite end of the landing bay's bridge. Several were in the blue uniforms of Cloud City officers. One was a bald man in tan clothing with a metal attachment around his skull. The final one was a handsome black man in a stylish pair of pants, shirt and cape, who was glaring at the men at the head of the group.

"Well, well," he snapped as he strode forward. "You two have got a hell of a lot of nerve showing up here after what you both pulled!"

"What, us?" Han said with a show of innocence.

Lando seemed ready to pull his arm back for a punch. Mal's hand was going for his sidearm when Lando suddenly grinned and embraced a startled Han. "You old pirate, good to see you again!" He backed up and nodded to Mal. "Not bad seeing you either, Reynolds. What brings you two here?"

"Need some repair work," Mal nodded to the ship.

Lando looked at it and his brows rose. "Might be easier just to buy a new boat." He frowned at Han. "Why aren't you in the Falcon? Don't tell me you two wrecked my ship."

"We needed another ride fast," Han answered. "And what do you mean your ship? You lost her to me, fair and square!"

Lando brushed it off as he looked at the others. "Good to see you, Chewbacca. Still hanging with this loser?" As Chewbacca grunted in reply, Lando smiled at Zoe. "Zoe…it's been far too long."

Mal actually seemed amused at the sight of his cool and confident second in command's cheeks flushing as she looked down. Wash looked at his wife with a frown before stepping forward with a hand outstretched. "Hi there, Wash, I'm Zoe's husband," he emphasized the last word.

Lando seemed taken aback at that but forgot it as soon as he laid eyes on Leia. "Well, hello there," he smiled as he reached to take her hand and kiss it. "Lando Calrissian, Baron Administrator of Cloud City."

"Leia," she said, charmed despite herself. "Oh and this is Luke." She nodded to the man next to her.

Lando nodded to them and then winced at the next man in line. "Jayne. Why the hell aren't you dead yet?"

As usual, Jayne failed to see the insult being thrown at him. "Ain't for lack of trying."

Lando nodded as he shook hands with Book, then Kaylee, who had changed into a lighter dress. "So nice to meet you!" she brightly said. "We need a few new spanners and some hydropanes and we could really use an overhaul to…"

Lando held up a hand. "Hold on, hold on! I have a lot of other clients who need repairs too, I just can't order my crews to drop everything and…"

"Oh, Lando," Inara cooed as she stepped forward. She was wearing her best dress, a dark outfit enhanced to show off her curves and cleavage. "Not even for me?"

Lando's eyes went wide before he smiled brightly. "Inara." He kissed her hand deeply. "My dear, had I known you were on board this crate, I would have had the red carpet rolled out."

"Yeah, fill her head, it needs that," Mal muttered.

Lando ignored him. "Well, I'm sure I can make some arrangements if it helps you on your way." He backed up, waving for them to follow. "Come on, I'll have some quarters set up for you."

"Looks like you're doing pretty well," Mal observed as he looked around the city.

Lando sighed. "Not as well as I'd like. We're a small facility and I have a lot of issues on my plate. I've got labor problems, union difficulties, hiring practices, getting clients…"

Han laughed. "Listen to you! You actually sound like a responsible leader."

Lando chuckled. "Yeah, I'm legitimate now. And guess what? You two were right all along, it's vastly overrated." The three laughed as the group moved on.

Simon was at the rear, looking to River. The young woman seemed cowered at the sight of the huge buildings, shuffling uneasily in her dress. "I know it's bigger than what we're used to…" Simon began.

"Our house was a mansion," River said, her eyes glancing about. "A castle for the pawns. Now we are in the bigger board and the pieces move in on us."

Simon frowned, sensing the warning in her words. "What do you mean? Someone's coming for us?"

River nodded slowly. "The shadow king will be here soon. The angels of light will face him. The hidden angel will spread his wings as well." She looked up to Simon, her eyes wide. "The light of your heart, Simon…You'll need to help her before the darkness closes."

Simon swallowed as he took in her words and could not blame the high winds of the planet for the chill that went through his body.