Hello. Iverik here. Just a reminder: This story uses characters created by someone other than me.
Facing the Black
Inara just happened to be looking back at where Serenity was hidden when the flash came. It was a brilliant flash. It might have been beautiful... if it wasn't during a war, and coming from the direction of good friends.
For a moment, she considered daring to wave Serenity. That was ruled out quickly. She bit her lip. Icy fear had her for a few long minutes. And then she remembered. Her shuttle banked and raced off to try to save its owner's friends.
Mal grunted as a bullet caught him. Running, he set up a spray of bullets to cover his retreat. His bullets were joined by bullets from Killer and Paul's guns. The autodemarchy's shots were somewhat wild, but pure luck would eventually run them down. A swarm of soldiers poured into the camp. The raid was over. But no one wanted to give up yet.
"Run!" Zoe screamed, dropping her weapon. Mal had never seen her run so fast. What in the 'verse could... He saw. Oh. Mal ran faster. "Go! Go! Go!" He screamed at Killer and Paul.
Seeing their prey in flight, the autodemarch troopers took a moment to carefully aim four killing shots. A slight smile crossed their lieutenant's face.
Then the first missile hit.
The concussion threw the Alliance soldiers off their feet. The autodemarchs lost their aim. Their guns spun to the sky. A shiny gunship roared overhead.
Wash had a pterodactyl on his console. "Watch me roar!" he told it, and fired again.
The autodemarch camp was a smouldering, lifeless ruin. Mal got back to his feet in time to spot a head of yellow hair through the cockpit of the disappearing fighter. Thoughtfully, Wash waited until he was out of sight before banking towards the Alliance base.
"Aria," Paul groaned. He ran to her side. She was quite dead. Watching over his shoulder, Mal noticed how different her eyes looked with the fire drained out of them. It reminded him of an old war buddy named Julie... he brushed away the memory harshly.
"Best we be movin' on," he advised.
"He's right," Killer agreed, "ain't no carrion eaters on this world to disturb her until our collectors come."
"I know." Paul straightened. "Just saying goodbye."
"Let's get a move-on. We know we were heading the right direction now. I want some hot food and to not be shot at for a change," Mal said.
The soldiers moved on. Only Paul looked back at Aria's body.
The Alliance lieutenant looked up in annoyance as the wave came in. "Another bleating civilian. Don't they know we're at war?" He smacked the wave to life. "This is the Alliance patrol ship Qingdao. This is a restricted communication zone..." He paused. The caller was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.
"Please," Inara begged, "I just saw a flash were one of my friends should have been. Could you check it out?"
"Ma'am," the lieutenant said more respectfully, "we're fighting a war..."
"Are you engaged at the moment?"
"Well..."
"I'm a member of the companion's guild," Inara said, "I could make it very much worth your while."
The lieutenant swallowed. "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to check the area. Might get lucky and bag a skink."
"Thank you so much."
"You just stay here."
"Of course."
The lieutenant closed the channel and opened another one.
"Qingdao to Liaoning."
"Liaoning."
"A civilian has reported some possible enemy activity. I'm going to check it out. Can you have gunship wing five sit on my patrol?"
"Okay. Good hunting. Liaoning, out."
"Qingdao, out."