Disclaimer: Not mine.

Rating: R just in case, violence and such

Archiving: Anytime, anywhere

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank, first and foremost, all my fellow Firefly fans, for their inspiration and input. Muchos gracias to Goldenthorn74, who has pushed and prodded me and helped to bring this story to fruition and keeping me true. Thanks ever so much to Heidi, whose insight has been a, well, a Joss-send :) And of course Joss and the cast and writers who brought these stories and characters to life.

Author's note: Chapter 1 of 8. This is my attempt to fill the void left by the absence of the show. In other words, if Firefly wasn't on 'hiatus', this wouldn't be here.

Spoilers: Serenity through The Message, just to be safe. This work is meant to be a continuation of the original 'verse, including the unaired eps. No explicit spoilers for Heart of Gold or Trash, but this was written with them in mind.

Summary: Mutiny is about to find it's home aboard Serenity. A struggle for power, shifting of loyalties. New friendships are formed. Secrets are revealed. As the Alliance closes in, will Serenity collapse and destroy herself from within?

Choices

"There was an odor of trouble, an indefinable wrong. It was like playing chess and making a bad move and not knowing why but knowing instinctively that it was a bad move. The instincts were yelling. As they used to do long ago at night . . . He gazed out into the black. The stars were obscured. It was the blindness that bothered him." - The Killer Angels

Prelude

"It seems you have a problem, Book."

Mal stands outside the passenger quarters, one hand grasping a high rung of the ladder, his attitude anything but worried over the other man's fate.

Book stands in his doorway, a warm glow lighting the thick shoji screen from within. He raises his eyebrows, a light smile and a guilty expression on his face.

"It would seem so. But," he adds, unworried as well, "I'm sure that it can be remedied."

Mal lets go of the ladder and moves to lean against it, "So . . . you got ideas? Cuz I've thought of a few."

"I'm sure you have." Book chuckles.

Mal tries to be stern, "This ain't no laughing matter, Shepherd. The way I figure the thing of it is, from what you say, you got enough credit to last another week. Would that be right?"

Book nods, waiting expectantly.

Mal continues, "You already got free passage, but I can only be so generous. So, as I see it, you're options are that I swing by the North Folk abbey once we reach Grenfield, give you a nice send-off-"

"Not an option I'd favor, I'd like to stick around." Book quickly interjects.

"Can't say as I'd like to see you go my own self. In fact," Mal continues, "What I would like to see is you starting to pull a little more weight around here. Help with the jobs every now and then. Get you out of the kitchen. I could use a talent like yours more often."

Book looks ill-at-ease with this option, but doesn't refuse outright.

"Now, I know you don't want to be made a part of my more . . . felonious . . . dealings. So, I thought up a little something that will even things between us." Mal is serious now, pushing off from the ladder.

Book notes this change, a little curious, and darkly replies in kind, "Can't wait to hear it."

"You tell me what you're connection is to the Alliance, you can continue to have a free ride in addition to a percentage."

Book only stares, clearly unfavorable to this concept.

"Or," Mal finishes, "I put you to work, you keep you're secrets."

***

"They're all wrong," River shakes her head.

Jayne grouses back, "Shut your crazy yapping."

Inside the cargo bay, an eight-inch knife thwacks into a dartboard covered with scraps of paper. Jayne approaches, pulling out the knife still impaled on a single scrap, looking close at what is written.

He turns his attention to the knife and tries out the name, "Nina" he says, rolling the name around in his mouth after a beat as he bobs the knife in his hand. "I'd like you to meet Nina."

He crumples the slip of paper in disgust, throwing it to the floor where other such crushed rejects lay,

"Gah!"

The dartboard is covered in a multitude of torn bits of paper, a name on each.

River is on the floor, not even looking at Jayne or the names on the board, busy with a large needle and a wedge of leather.

Jayne gives her a glance, more concerned about the pointed object in her hand than what she is actually doing.

Muttering to himself as he takes aim, "Gorram things been with me near a month, and she still ain't got a name."

Thwack.

"Something about that just ain't right."

"Maybe it's a boy?" River offers from the floor.

Jayne pulls the knife out, ignoring her, "Jane? Jane Junior?"

Turning around in frustration, he snaps, "I thought you were supposed to be some sorta genius?" He turns his attention back to the board as he continues, "Women are the most dangerous creatures in the 'verse. They don't even have to kill you themselves, they can just make you do it for 'em."

"Done!" calls River. Thwack. It misses, slipping in between two scraps.

"Ni ta ma de! You're messin my aim, why don't you just scat, girl--" He turns around to find her gone.

"Freak," he mutters, almost missing having someone to whinge at.

As he walks back, looking over the catwalks in mild paranoia, Jayne readies to throw the knife again, his back still to the dartboard. "C'mon, girl, we're gonna get it this time."

Turning around, his arm arching for the toss, he catches himself as River is suddenly standing in front of his target.

"You crazy motherless son of a -- " he walks up to her, pissed, waving the hilt at her as he admonishes, "She almost had your name written all over--"

She thrusts a small bundle of fabric into his free hand, "I hope you don't mind the wrapping." Jayne looks highly confused.

"Hap --"

"Jayne!" Mal shouts from the door, seeing Jayne towering over River, with a knife in her face.

Jayne glances at him, quickly realizing the look of the situation, "Aw, hey, Mal, this ain't--"

"River!" Simon comes in behind Mal, hesitating.

Jayne quickly sheaths the knife as Simon rushes over to grab her.

"The hell it ain't" Mal strides up to Jayne, getting up in his face as Simon pulls River off to the side.

"Girl's clean out of her -- aw hell, it's me you should be savin'!"

Mal gives River a glance, who stares back at him as she touches her cheek in confusion.

Mal tears his eyes away to give Jayne a hard look. "Per maybe haps."

River continues to stare at Mal, unnerving him. He gives her another passing quizzical look.

Simon chastises her for her folly, trying unsuccessfully to gain her attention. When she finally looks at her brother, she smacks him soundly across the face and stomps away. Simon raises his hand to his face as both Mal and Jayne stop to stare. Simon backs away and heads after her.

Mal turns back to Jayne, "Notwithstanding, we're going to be in the world in less than halfa, I'm taking Simon on this one," his anger now receding, and softer, laced with mischief, " 'Sides, seeing as it's that blessed day you graced the 'verse with you're presence, I thought you could do with a little downtime. Give you a rest." Jayne, looks confused, clearly not knowing what day it is. He latches onto the one thing he is sure of, and protests being left behind.

"It's already decided, don't argue me Jayne." Mal walks away as he adds, "You'll still get paid."

Jayne looks slightly appeased. Still worried, "You thinking on replacing me?"

Mal stops at the foot of the stairs and turns back to face him, a subtle warning in his voice, "Walk soft Jayne."

***

Mal reaches the top of the stairs, glancing briefly towards Inara's shuttle, and walks the other way. He is deep in thought when he rounds a corner and walks into her. He curses, quickly stepping back.

Inara smiles, laughing a little, "Penny for your thoughts, Mal?"

He softens, shaking off his anger, "It'll cost you a lot more than that." He smiles warmly back at her a moment too long. Clearing his throat, he then notices how she is dressed, "Going somewhere?"

She seems a little put off by the change of subject, but goes with it, "I came to tell you, I'll be gone for the better part of the day." She smiles politely at him, "Unlike the last four planets, Grenfield actually has a respectable client base."

He looks at her a moment, perturbed, managing, "Good, what's life without work, right?"

"Yes, right." She looks pointedly at him, "But it ruined a little theory I had about your choice of destinations of late."

Mal mocks offense, "You have such a low opinion of me," but clearly does like the direction she is heading. He turns it back on her, "Try not to be so disappointed, Inara."

She looks a little confused as to what he is referring to, giving him a questioning look.

He clarifies, "You'll have plenty of other chances to not work."

Her smile falters, but she rallies, "I'm surprised that you even considered taking this job on such a pro-Alliance planet. I thought you avoided the Core as a rule?"

She strikes a nerve, gaining a small victory as his smug grin fades.

"Yeah, well . . . " He doesn't finish.

Inara pushes on, her tone playfully cruel, "Zoe said this delivery is a favor for an old friend, from before the war. I didn't think you had friends." She teases, "Is it possible that someone out there still likes you?"

Mal stares hard at her, not amused, "Zoe should mind what she says." He steps past her, his cool mask of indifference falling into place.

She grabs his arm, stopping him, "Mal . . . " She can't articulate the apology that is written over her face.

He removes her hand, trying to get clear of the conversation as quickly as possible, "Don't you have somewhere you need to be going?"

She twists her small hand inside his grip, not letting him go, "It can wait. Why is it so bad talk about it, the past?" She stares at him imploringly, "Who is he, this man you're doing the favor for?"

Again he tries to pull free as she reaches out with her other hand to stay him.

"Does it matter?" He looks down, uncomfortable with their continued contact, keenly aware of how close she is to him.

She looks at him, not knowing what to say at first, "How can it not?"

His voice is thick as he retorts, "What's done is done, Inara. Leave it alone."

"Just tell me why you are doing something you don't want to. It's still your ship, isn't it?"

He looks at her, regaining his foothold. "I thought you'd know best out of anyone here."

She doesn't understand.

He smiles coldly, "Sure money." He shakes her off, stepping back, "It's just business, Inara." He turns and walks away, calling over his shoulder, "Let Wash know when to expect you back."

She watches him turn a corner, her own cool mask settling into place, before she turns back towards her shuttle. Passing over the now empty cargo bay along the catwalk, she stops and looks down, grasping the handrail. Her face is impassive, but her fingers clench and unclench in agitation.

Inara stares unseeing for a moment before she realizes that she is looking directly at River, alone below her.

She steps back in surprise, releasing the handrail as she mouths River's name, trying to regain her composure.

From the bowels of Serenity Kaylee's voice carries, giving voice to Inara's query,

"River?" The mechanic's voice grows louder, "Guess where Jayne is taking us!"

River sways, hesitant, before she bounds off under the catwalk and out of sight.

****

"Inara'll be back mid-aft, should give us plenty of time to get into trouble before the cap'n can leave." Kaylee bounces in excitement in the shuttle as Jayne pilots her and River over to one of the villages.

"Xiao guai here doesn't need near that much time," Jayne muttered, "She's a real talent for it,"

"Jayne, how can you be so glum on--"

Jayne, apparently not listening, gripes, "Can't believe he's taking a tenderfoot and a preacher on a job. Gives a man cause to worry."

River busies herself tying knots in a makeshift fishing line.

Kaylee, "Oh, c'mon Jayne, it's shiny! This is the first green planet we've been to in a long while." She twists a bit of wire that River passes to her with pliers. "I kinda feel bad for Simon, missing out on this. I don't think he's ever been fishing a day in his life."

River smiles, shaking her head, "Busy Simon."

Kaylee jumps up and plants a kiss on Jayne's cheek, startling him, "But it was real sweet of you to insist to the cap'n that we come along."

River glances up at Jayne, her smile disappearing, then ducks away before Jayne looks over his shoulder at her.

***

"Sure you don't wanna come?" Kaylee asks.

Jayne sits in a dusty unlit tavern, the sunlight not reaching his corner. "Just make sure you're back in time. I don't wanna have to come looking for your sorry ass after dark."

"Don't be alone Jayne! 'Specially not today of all--"

"What makes today any different?" Jayne snarls.

Kaylee snaps her mouth firmly shut and turns her nose up at him, pretending to be deeply hurt. She stares skyward and says, with a martyred sigh, "I tried."

Jayne looks uncomfortable under River's quiet, quizzical stare, not knowing what to make of her.

Kaylee grabs her hand and tugs her towards the door, "Don't worry about him if he wants to sit on his pee-goo all day."

River follows Kaylee out the door, shaking off whatever had gripped her. They pick up the poles they left lying against the brick of the tavern wall, as well as a can of wriggling worms, and trek off, leaving the tavern and shuttle behind them.

As they wander down a path cut between the hayfields, brown and black hair conspiring in the noon sun, River whispers something to Kaylee. They both laugh and race to the wood line.

Jayne sits in the emptiness of the tavern, the fan swirling the dust in the air.

"It ain't my birthday."

****

A crack of gunfire ripples through the clear air, tracing its way across the sea of grassland.

Mal closes his eyes, feeling the wind, listening. He takes a deep breath as he hears the distant rumble of a motor drifting on the wind. Turning, he sees an ATV trundling slowly toward them, a speck on the horizon dipping out of the slate blue sky and into tawny waves.

He turns back to Simon and Wash, the pilot trying unsuccessfully to get the younger man to hit the Blue Sun cans five yards out.

"Don't hold your--" Wash admonishes as Simon fires and misses again.

"Squeeze on exhalation, right." Simon mutters, "I got it."

Another shot rips through the air. Wash and Simon both sigh as he misses again.

"Not so much." Wash turns to the captain, "This was your idea, Mal. You're the one who likes the challenges. I like challenges, but this is impossible!" Wash scratches his head, "Give me some advice here Captain."

Simon looks at Mal, expectant.

"Uh, imagine . . . imagine they're hearts," Mal thinks a moment, "Little blue hearts. River hates Blue Sun, right? Or . . . think of someone you really don't like."

Simon looks mildly disgusted, "Don't like or want to kill?"

Mal shrugs, "Your pick."

Book sits in the dappled shade of a twisted apple tree, reading. None too pleased, he glances up, "It is possible for you to improve Simon's hand-eye coordination via other means."

Mal turns an annoyed glance at Book, "Sure there is, preacher, but I don't want it to be my life on the line the day Simon can't shoot a man cuz he's not a harmless tin can. I ain't gonna sugarcoat why it is exactly we're out here doing this. Boy needs to know how to survive." He pauses, "If I recall right, you didn't seem to have this issue back at the skyplex. Where's this sudden phobia of taking up arms against a body coming from?"

"There's more to life than surviving." Book retorts.

"Yeah, well, you can't fill your life with warm and fuzzy meaning if you're dead."

Mal turns back to Simon, "We ain't got all day."

Simon looks from Mal to Book, not sure who is right. He sighs, raising the gun.

Another crack ripples across the sky, but the cans remain unharmed.

Wash rubs his face, gazing longingly over at Zoe, who is stretched out in the grass, eyes closed, beaming with pleasure, "All jobs should be like this."

"Ah, yes, the soothing sound of gunfire," Wash quips.

"It's like thunder," Zoe sighs, "I haven't been in a proper rain storm in aaages."

She lingers on the last word, causing Wash to drool, "Mal, can we go to a planet where it rains a lot?"

"One day, Wash." Mal is distant in thought, a ghost of a smile almost on his face. He feels eyes on him, and looks at Simon.

Simon stares back, a little amused, "I thought you liked the woods better? All this . . . tian xia . . ." He gives a significant glance to the vast plain around them, "We're sitting ducks out here."

Mal looks around him, unconcerned, "Remember what it was like to feel safe?"

The wind makes the grass shimmer and ripple, catching the light.

His voice growing distant, "I knew a place like this. Made no matter who in the 'verse could see you, who your back was turned to . . ." He shakes his head, "Used to be a . . ." he trails off, looking at the others as they stare back in mild surprise.

Mal almost sighs in relief as the ATV reaches them and comes to a halt.

"You're late." Mal squints in the sun at an aging man exiting his vehicle.

The newcomer tugs at the brim of his hat in apology, "And you're very loud."

"Ain't a cause of trouble for fifty square as can hear us," Mal says defensively, breaking into a grin, "What's the news, Chet? How the hell you doing?"

Chet grins back, but Mal keeps his distance, not offering a hand.

"Rita's offer still stands," Chet jests, "If you wanna run away with her."

Mal looks mildly pained at the old joke, puts on a good face, allowing, "Your wife's had a crush on me since I was five. But, you can keep her and her cooking." It is obvious that he has said more than he wanted to.

Simon looks a little bashful as Chet surveys the untouched row of Blue Sun cans, "We just started."

Wash and Chet exchange amused looks. Chet works his way around to the point of their meeting, "Ain't it my luck that an Alliance Cruiser touched down over at the capital. Makes it a little more gorram hard for a man to go about his business."

Simon shoots a worried look at Mal, who hides his concern, and gives Simon a glance that says to do the same.

"Well, Chet, that's understandable then. I appreciate you taking the time to be careful. A word would have been nice, but I guess that's as it is."

Chet hands Mal the common brown pouch, "Here's the other half, and I'll throw in another ten if you can give me a hand loading. Ain't got nobody able-bodied left but myself. And expeditious has taken on a whole new relevance in light of present circumstances."

Mal looks a little guilty at the news, "Can do. Zoe?"

Wash hauls his wife up with a little more force than necessary. They both stumble and laugh as he trips her again.

"Sir" she acknowledges, sobering. "Chet," she gives him a warm smile as she and Wash laugh their way up the ramp to get the mule, Chet following in his own vehicle.

Simon still looks uncomfortable, despite the relaxed attitude of the others, "Shouldn't we be getting on our own way Captain?" He snarks, "In the light of present circumstances?"

"We ain't the ones heading back into the storm. Book and Zoe will give Chet here a hand with the cargo. In the meantime, Wash an' me'll try to make a marksman of you yet."

At the mention of his name, Book joins the two other men, giving the practice targets a disapproving glare, but turns an easy glance to Mal.

"I can't say as I'm comfortable being made a part of this . . . "

"You know the deal, Shepherd. You wanna stay on board Serenity, you gotta pay, one way or another." Mal hears the mule starting up, looks directly at Book, "And you can't pay no more."

Book meets his challenging gaze, "Oh, I'm staying, and I'll do my share, but I would rather it be the more legal things that need doing. Ease the burden on my soul, if you will--"

Simon replies for Mal, "Chet seems like a nice enoug--"

Mal suddenly growls low, "Qu ni de. Watch your tongue, preacher," his voice seething with a quiet rage, "You already made your choice. You'll never meet a more honest man, so you'll keep your disparaging remarks shut down tight until you can learn the difference between what's right and what's legal."

Book does not say anything for a moment, a little surprised by Mal's strong reaction.

Zoe, Wash, and Chet return, both vehicles loaded with non-descript bulky boxes, and pull down alongside the three men.

Chet hops off, joining Mal, who steps back, not able to completely erase the anger from his face. Chet pauses a moment before lunging ahead with his traditional request, "Sure you don't want to swing by yourself? The others haven't seen you since . . . well, in a long while."

Wash finally disengages himself from Zoe, hopping down, fascinated by the exchange between Mal and Chet.

Book softens, changing tactics, "If you've got family here, maybe it would be better if--"

Wash stops his approach.

"Stow it Preacher." Mal says with a tight smile, his voice still low. He manages a calm but curt tone as he says to Chet, "Take Book and Zoe . . . nice doing business, Chet. I'll see you around."

The older man smiles sadly, expecting this response, but having tried anyway, and turns to his own vehicle, "I'll give your love to Rita."

Mal doesn't reply, but turns a stony look to Book, who still lingers, looking unfavorably upon Mal's decision. Wash steps back, noticing a friction between the two men.

Zoe waits, noticing it too, "Play nice, sir," she admonishes, "Book?"

Chet tips his hat in farewell, "Take care of yourself, Malcolm," and drives back the way he came.

Book looks like he wants to say something to Mal, but swings onto the mule instead.

Mal calls out glibly, "Look, when we finish here, you can tell Simon all about how hate leads to the dark side."

Zoe shoots Mal a look, "Be a coupla hours, driving mostly."

"Bye lamby toes!" Wash waves happily as Zoe follows Chet, deliberately ignoring how close the air had gotten.

Mal stares after their receding vehicles, and then shakes it off. "C'mon, Luke," pointing Simon back toward the cans.

Wash watches them go, then trots after Mal, "So what does that make you? Han?"

Mal gives him his best lopsided grin. Then business-like, gives Wash a gesture to continue with Simon, as he himself stares across the plain.

"In that case, Mal," Simon fires, and a can flies back, "just stay away from my sister." Simon fires again, hitting a second, smiling at Mal, who gives him a distracted half-smile. Simon fires again and misses.

Mal doesn't notice, his eyes half-closed as he breathes in the wind.

Wash, "So, Jayne would be, what? Chewie?"

Simon, firing again, "Eerie."

****

"River, get out of the . . . you'll scare the fish away!"

River heaps a wave of water onto Kaylee's feet up on the embankment of roots and moss. Kaylee laughs as her pole is yanked into the water. "This is better!" River shouts cheerfully.

"You're so gonna get it." Kaylee peels out of her rolled up coveralls and cannonballs into the water.

****

The tavern has filled up some, enough for Jayne to occupy himself with a game of pool. A man enters, cleaner than the rest, shaven, clean hands. Jayne eyes him, making note of him as he continues playing. The newcomer strikes up a conversation with the barkeep, an affable man named Berman. Jayne catches the name Ferny, and wanders over to the bar, paying for another drink, getting a closer look.

Ferny's voice drifts in and out, " . . . looking for some friends of mine, heard they might be in town . . .

The man continues to speak as he gives Jayne a passing glance. The latter walks away hearing, " . . . a firefly, hard to get in touch with."

Jayne heads out the back door as Ferny continues to speak to the barkeep,

"Saw that craft outside, looks like what belongs to that breed of horse, thought maybe it could be what I was looking for. You wouldn't happen to know who belongs to that ladybug?"

***

The sky is getting warm and golden as the sun lowers. From the green darkness of the towering shade trees behind them, the girls wander back barefoot, dripping and happy. The path they take follows the river as it emerges from the woods, which then meanders through the glowing fields of grass that border and obscure the village of New Weston beyond. With broken poles and a full can of bait, River wonders if the grocers is still open.

Kaylee agrees, "A cake would be better than fish anyhow."

****

"Mal," Jayne eyes the wood-line outside the tavern, waiting for a response.

Crackle, "Jayne?"

"Wash. We got us a snoop . . . snooping around, asking questions 'bout Serenity."

Silence, then, "Maybe you should head back on over here--"

"Can't. Girls are still off, communing with nature. Should be back soon though, with the night coming on." Jayne squints at the glare of the setting sun.

"I'll give Mal the heads up." Crackle, "Hey, why didn't you say it was your--"

Jayne clicks the comm off, baring his teeth. He walks back inside, a silhouette suddenly appears in the sky as a ship departs from its path in the sun. Jayne finds the tavern empty, except for the barkeep. His hackles up, he makes to back out, only to find the newcomer holding a gun on him, smiling.

"Jayne? Jayne Co--"

He is cut short as Jayne quickly and instinctively knocks the gun from his hand and guts him. The man falls down, his jacket flapping open, revealing a chain, which Jayne grabs, discovering a badge.

William Ferny.

Interpol.

He swears, "Gorram feds," hearing the whine of a gunship touching down, realizing the mess he is in.

"Tzao-goa."

***

River and Kaylee round a corner, walking through the alley to the tavern.

River stops, dropping the poles and the can of worms, "I think we're lost." She walks a little further around the corner, coming up on the doorless side of the tavern, looking confused. "No," she whispers.

"It's right here, silly--" Kaylee doesn't understand.

River stops, looking up at the narrow sliver of sky, then realizing that the danger is on the ground already, she starts to back up, pushing Kaylee.

"River, what are you--"

"Just go!" River manages to get Kaylee around the corner, her hands pushing her, her body meaning to follow. Gunfire is heard from behind the brick, inside the tavern.

"Freeze!"

Kaylee leans into the wall, grasping River's hands, looking at her, scared. River ignores her, and starts to disentangle their fingers, keeping her eyes on the faceless fed.

"River Tam, you are bound by law. Put your hands in the air!" A man stands at the other end of the alley, weapon trained on a seemingly solitary River.

"River . . . " Kaylee whispers, but River steps out her sight, towards the fed, her hands behind her back.

"Go." River barely breathes it, but Kaylee hears, and starts to creep away, slipping down another alley, dismayed.

River continues to advance on the fed, who unknowingly backs up, his weapon unsteady in his hands.

"There is no 'i' in team," she sing-songs, "but there is in Timothy." Timothy glances about his person, as if to find a treacherous name-tag.

She sways against the tavern wall, seeming to listen, with her hands splayed against the brick. She sees two more feds at the end of the alley, makes note of them. Then quick as a cat, she leaps against the opposite wall four feet off the ground, propelling herself to the tiny broken window ten feet up on the tavern wall, slipping inside. Timothy, too surprised and slow, fires at the opposite building, barely able to follow her movement.

***

"Hey, Mal, we got a bit of a problem." Wash runs out to Mal, breathing hard, "Remember that Alliance ship that you said had nothing to do with us?"

Mal cuts a sharp look to Simon, who is putting Mal's gun back together. Simon glances up, suddenly keen to a new danger. Mal steps aside with Wash, who has the sense to appear mildly apologetic.

Wash continues, "They've got Jayne pinned back at town with a coupla gunboats." He looks over at Simon with empathy, handing the comm to Mal.

"Jayne?" He calls over the comm.

"What about River . . . and Kaylee? They were with him. Where--" Simon stands, pushing his way into the conversation, frantic.

"As far as we know it's just Jayne," Wash offers.

Mal gives him a look that asks if that isn't enough.

****

The back door flies open as Berman runs out. Timothy shoots him down in a wild spray of ammo.

Inside River runs and crouches next to Jayne behind the overturned pool table, he lowers the comm into which he was talking. Two bodies puddle the floor, one in the doorway. Jayne looks at her in surprise, swearing.

Fear then takes over him, "Kaylee?"

"She's away. Give me a gun."

Jayne grabs her arm, "The hell. Get in that back roo--"

"Jayne Cobb, this is Commander Santa Jauna of the I.A.V. Beltaine," a man yells, "No harm will come to you if you hand over River Tam!"

Jayne takes that in for moment, looking at River. She is scared, shaking her head. He snarls at her and carries her bodily over to the storeroom behind the bar.

"No!" she cries, "Don't! Jayne, stop! Let me go! It won't work!"

***

"Jayne!" Mal waits angrily, yelling into the comm.

"He'll sell us out to save his own hide!" Simon screams, "Don't tell me it's not the truth, Mal!"

"Shut up one gorram minute, Simon!"

Wash looks from Mal to Simon, "River isn't even with him."

Patience wearing thin, Mal says tightly, "You're not helping."

***

River screams, frail fingers prying at his iron grip, "Jayne! You can't do this . . . kill you! Give it to me!"

"Shut up or I swear I'll ---"

"Jayne Cobb!"

"Ruttin' hell --I'm thinkin about it!" he roars at the fed, clamping his hand over River's mouth.

He pulls the comm off of his belt, speaking into it, "Mal."

***

"Kaylee?" Mal asks.

Wash and Simon stand around the comm in Mal's hand, listening. Wash and Mal exchange worried looks. Simon stares at Mal in silent shock, waiting for the news.

"She got away, just River'n me." Jayne's voice cuts out for a moment, "We're in a tight spot . . . don't look good."

Simon says quietly to Mal, "Looks like the feds finally put two and two together same as Early did."

Mal continues to ignore him, focusing on the comm.

Jayne crackles back, "Guess this was bound to catch up with . . . I got an offer of amnesty, Mal." They hear Jayne laughing, "I need some advice. I need a plan, Mal."

Mal thinks a moment, "Ain't one to be had. Situation on this end isn't looking good for a rescue op. We're short two, don't know when they'll be back, and we're still a haul from the town."

Mal looks over Wash and Simon. At his ship, Serenity. At the horizon where Zoe and Book are. Taking in everything that is at stake.

Knowing that it is a lose-lose situation, he takes one last stab at hope, "Tell me this, is there even a chance to overpower them?"

***

Jayne hears another ship flying overhead, landing nearby. River stares at him and shakes her head.

"No," he says into the comm.

He looks at River, who is terrified, "Even if there was, it'd take too ruttin' long for you to get here," he takes stock of his weapons, "This won't last but a bit."

River looks him in the eye, nodding.

From the comm crackles, "Agreed."

"'Agreed' what?" Jayne asks in confusion.

"You're on your own."

Jayne lets this sink in.

"It's your choice now how you handle this, but we ain't coming."

"Yeah, Mal. Can't say I'd be doing any differently were things . . . Life will be a little easier for you after this, huh? Guess it's all for the best, right?"

"Yeah, Jayne," the comm crackles one last time, "The best . . . "

The static holds, "Your choice."

Jayne holds River's gaze, "Understood."

He clicks the safety off.

***

"Captain, did you just give him permission to give up River?!" Wash shouts, his face reddening.

Simon stands still, staring at nothing, the world rushing out of him. He looks at Mal, eyes black, but the captain is focused on Wash..

"Get a hold of Zoe, tell her to drop everything, we're outta here soon as possible." Mal is disgusted, frustrated. He hands Wash the comm back and rubs his empty palms on his pants. "It's outta my hands. Can't give orders to a dead man."