1Author owns no rights to Firefly, and writes only for his own amusement.
I know this has been a while coming. My comp had a nervous breakdown, and all my notes were lost. I'm working on rebuilding, but it's slow. Thanks for all your encouragement.
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"Sorry we're a mite late, Mister Bellows," Mal said, as the farmer and his family emerged from the bullet marred house. "Everyone okay?"
"Thanks to you folks," Bellows nodded, hugging his daughter closely. "I admit, I really didn't think that young doctor knew what he was saying, but I'm seein' now I was wrong."
"Well, I know you folks has had it rough," Mal nodded, "but seein' as how you're all okay, let's gather your what-nots and make tracks. We got more folks to see to, and these," he indicated the dead attackers, "may not be the only ones about."
The crew worked quickly to secure the Bellows' family and their belongings. Julio, meanwhile, scoured the raider ship for information. When he emerged, he was frowning.
"They had a route laid out to four planets or moons where we're picking up kids," he informed Mal grimly. "They can't be all that's out here, Mal."
"Figures," Mal muttered darkly. "Okay, let's assume that the ones these was 'sposed to grab are safe for the moment. Any notion on who, or how many more are out there? Maybehap where they're going first?"
"None," Julio admitted. "These guys had specific orders and nothing else."
"So it's a crap shoot," Mal nodded. "Time to roll the dice." He turned to the others.
"Let's get in the black, people. We just lost our edge. Time's workin' agin us now."
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"So we try Ariel first?" River asked. Athena was in the black once more.
"It's closer," Jayne nodded. "We're not blessed with time, so I figure it's best to get to what we can as soon as we can. What do you think?"
"Logical," River nodded, brow creased in thought. "Knowing what he looks like should help in locating him."
"Let's hope so," Jayne nodded. "I gotta bad feelin' about all this, though."
"As do I," River admitted quietly. "I cannot put my finger on it exactly, however."
"We're making good time," Jayne shrugged helplessly. "All we can do."
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"Any news?" Simon asked, as he and Kaylee entered the dining room for the evening meal. Prim and Inara were already seated.
"Not as yet," Inara replied. "We have to assume that things are going well, though. Otherwise we would have heard from them."
"I agree," Prim nodded. "They would not leave us in the dark if things were going poorly. Meanwhile, we must ensure that everything is taken care of on our own end."
"Well, the students we still have here are showing signs of improvement," Simon announced proudly. "The psychiatrist seems to be having a good effect on the children."
"Wonderful!" Inara exclaimed, her hands clasping to her breasts.
"It's still a long road before them," Simon cautioned. "But it's encouraging."
"I'll take it."
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Mal leaned over the nav-screen, studying their track, and the locations of the children
they still needed to get to.
"Looking at that won't make the trip go any faster, Mal," Neera said softly. He turned, smiling faintly.
"I know," he admitted. "I'm just trying to see some way to get all this done. Some sorta track that'll let us get all this done, and stay ahead o' the curve."
"We're doing all we can, Mal," Neera shrugged helplessly. "There's a limit to what anyone can do. Even you."
"I know that all too well," Mal sighed, settling into the pilots seat. Visions of past failures, and losses, flooded into his memory.
Neera settled gently into his lap, embracing him. The two sat that way for a long time, looking into the black and trying to come up with a way to make things happen.
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"We're over Ariel, My Lord," Harry called over the com.
"Good job, Harry," Jayne called back. "Set us down."
Twenty minutes later, Jayne and River set out in search of the elusive Brockman.
"Were do we start?" River asked, looking into the crowd, and pressing her senses even further afield.
"I know a man, not to far from here," Jayne told her. "He may have some information for us. He usually keeps tabs on who's coming and going. And what they're into," he added.
"And he'll help you?" River asked.
"He will," Jayne nodded. "Helped him out of a jam, once. He owes me. And I've sent work his way over the years."
River said nothing else as the two walked along the street. After fifteen minutes of silent walking, Jayne stopped in front of a large building.
"Jayne, this is the government building," River pointed out.
"So it is," Jayne nodded, starting for the building.
"Your friend is part of the government?" River asked.
"Something like that."
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Brockman listened in rage as his assistant spoke,
"We've had no word from him, and the ship hasn't responded to our calls."
"Where was he going?" Brockman seethed. The assistant handed him the itinerary.
"Get me Wilson," he ordered tersely.
"Sir, Wilson isn't the most stable of . . ."
"I said get me Wilson!" Brockman's fist crashed into the heavy desk, and the sound of wood splintering filled the room.
"Yes sir."
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"I think we're gonna need some help on this," Mal announced suddenly. Heads rose around the table at that.
"Sir?" Zoe asked, eyebrows raised in question.
"There's more than one ship out there," Mal waved toward the black, "and we're but one. We can't get to them all in time. I'm open to suggestions."
"Who would you call?" Neera asked. "This isn't someone we can trust to just anyone."
"Thought o' that," Mal nodded. "Ain't but one or two I'd want to trust with this anyway, and none o' them are likely to be able to handle a problem such as we encountered on our last stop. No, what I got in mind is something a little different." He outlined his idea for a few moments, and when he was finished, heads were nodding.
"I'll get on the cortex to Prim right now," Julio said, rising. "We should be able to get that moving in just a few hours."
"Good."
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"That's a good idea," Prim nodded as the wave broke. "Inara, can you see to the shipping? I'll have Simon call the families."
"I'm already working on it," Inara smiled at him over her own screen before returning to work. Prim watched her for a moment, and then spoke suddenly, surprising even himself.
"I love you, Inara Serra," he said quietly but firmly. Inara's eye's locked on him like lasers at that.
"I love you, and I never want to be parted from you," Prim told her. "When this crisis is past, I would like for the two of us to go to Nightside together. We can take charge of the children's future. Raise them as if they were our own."
Inara's face colored with surprise and pleasure. She had never expected to actually hear Prim speak those words.
"I'd like that very much, Primeter," she replied softly. "I love you as well, you know," she added impishly. "And I'd like to spend the rest of my life loving you."
"Then you shall," Prim assured her, and bent his head, kissing her.
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I know this is long overdue, and I apologize. My computer had a nervous breakdown, and all my completed works, and my notes, were lost. I'm working to get back on track, but real life is taking a good deal of my time. I will soon be getting married to the perfect woman, sent to me by divine providence, or at least that's what I think! I know I couldn't have gotten her on my own, LOL. Anyway, I'll work as fast as possible to get back on track. Be patient, please, and thanks so much for the reviews, and the notes asking if I'm okay. They mean a great deal to me.