Title: The Perfect Day Rating: R, for violence Synopsis: Niska gets what’s coming to him. And so do the crew of Serenity. Timeline: 8-9 months after wedding, 7 - 8 months after All good things must come to an end Notes: Next part of a series beginning with : And So It Begins, Kiss Me, Coming Together, Tell Me, What’s Proper?, Tears , Peekaboo, Impatient, Waking Up is Hard to Do, The Talk, I See You, Exhaustion, Moving Day, Celebration, Surprise , Vacation, Reunion, Manipulation, Baby Talk, A First Time for Everything, The Way It Is, A Special Day, Girl Talk, The Gift, Breaking It In, Making Plans, Friends and Enemies, Where I Belong , Private Time , All good things must come to an end, Moving On, Questions and Answers, The Secrets That We Keep, Revelations, All a Flutter, Shattered, Far and Away, The Perfect Day

Disclaimer: This story is not meant to infringe on the copyright of any person or company related to the trademarked characters and situations depicted in the Serenity movie or Firefly series. I make no money from this. Only done for fun – and a desperate craving to have more stories told about this wonderful ‘verse Joss Whedon created.

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Because I'm a mean, evil person, this story has been split into 3 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are also short for dramatic effect.

Thanks to everyone who has continued to read even through the disturbing topics. This story effectively ends this arc in the series, though there will be more to come because not everything will be resolved by the end of this story.

Many thanks to TamSibling for the constant critique and content suggestions.

And much thanks to Wanmei for the medical information that will appear in the next chapter.

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Mal grimaced as the business end of a rather large gun was rammed into his side. “Badger sends his regards,” he gritted through clenched teeth.

“Rather annoying little weasel, isn’t he?” Niska smiled smugly as they walked around a few large buildings, familiar-looking metallic crates, and into a large structure filled with even more crates. They moved to a back room, noticeably guarded, that contained all kinds of lovely, painfully sharp instruments as well as some very familiar and – memorable equipment.

“Oh, you didn’t need to have a party just for me!” Mal exclaimed as the number of guards inside the room near doubled those outside of it.

“You’re always at the top of my list of invitations.” Niska smiled gleefully and then his expression turned into a mournful frown. “I do fear that any further ones I send out will be returned after our meeting has concluded.”

Niska laughed as a big man pulled Mal roughly toward a table that currently rested vertically, leather straps at the bottom and midway point indicating a placemark for wrists and ankles. With one arch of Niska’s head, Mal was forcibly restrained against it while another much smaller man fastened Mal’s limbs to it.

“Really, Niska,” Mal tugged at his restraints. “You’re not my type.”

The older man’s lips turned into a thin smile. “I killed you once Captain Reynolds, I plan to do so again. This time, however, your end will be – most permanent.”

Zoe glanced toward the armed men surrounding her and over their shoulders, hoping to find a weakness, or to see the others preparing to mount a big damn rescue. She saw no opening, and she saw no one in the shadows coming to their aid.

~*~

“Come on, doc! Keep up!” Jayne hissed as they squeezed themselves through the break River had engineered in the electric barrier. She’d already disarmed the closest motion sensor array so that they would not appear on any security screens located elsewhere in the compound. River led the way around a multitude of crates and containers, scowling as she recognized the design.

Simon looked upon them with disgust, knowing exactly for what they were used. They were portable cryo containers. River had been smuggled out of the Academy inside ones of similar design. Simon’s desire to free these poor people from a life of servitude and slavery warred with his desire to render a slow, painful death to Adeli Niska.

“I knew we shouldn’t have let them go alone!” Jayne puffed as he let Vera precede him around a sharp corner. “Somethin’ always goes wrong with his gorram plans!”

“Catch him off guard. Easier to infiltrate.” River jogged beside Jayne, easily keeping stride with her much shorter legs.

“Ain’t gonna do us no good if they’re dead by the time we get there,” Jayne huffed, and suddenly flattened himself against the wall.

Simon and River came to a stop behind him and mimicked his action, Simon doing so a bit awkwardly.

Without thought or hesitation, Jayne reached out and gripped the guard’s head and twisted, snapping his neck instantly.

Simon winced and swallowed the instant feeling of disgust that welled in his chest. It would do no good to be squeamish now. There was a lot of death to be dealt. Simon wanted a part in only one, however, and it didn’t matter if he had to go through a whole squadron of bodies to get there.

When they reached the complex that River knew held Mal and Zoe, they crept along the outer wall, skirting some guards and dealing out swift death to those who got in their way. Simon stood back and watched with reluctant fascination as his sister and Jayne methodically took out everyone that impeded their progress.

How poetic. Brother healer. Sister killer, Simon thought, and River cast him an annoyed look over her shoulder as they climbed the steep metal staircase.

Opening the door at the top of the stairs quietly, Jayne peered inside before motioning River and Simon to follow.

~*~

Mal screamed as the hot poker was driven into his ribs, piercing and cauterizing his skin.

Niska gave a smug, satisfactory smile before turning to Zoe. “Do not worry, dear. You’ll be next. His life expectancy is only a few days at most.”

“We won’t give you that luxury,” Zoe seethed, meeting Niska’s eyes.

Niska glanced around and extended his arms. “You and what army will infiltrate my complex?” He stepped closer and the guard holding Zoe had to tighten his grip on her arms to prevent her from reaching out and snapping the crime lord’s neck. “Do not think I learned nothing from our last encounter, my dear.”

Zoe kept silent. Stoically refusing to be goaded into boasting about their carefully laid plans for his demise. Plans, Zoe noted with an inward groan, which would only be realized if Jayne, River and Simon made it there before the hundan killed Mal. But, Zoe reflected with a content smile, her Captain was an ornery old cuss and wouldn’t be dying anytime soon. Niska would see to that.

Niska laughed and nodded to the man holding a thin instrument with a large, flat round disk attached to one end. A tool used to start a man’s heart, not to be used on a healthy one.

As the metal disk touched Mal’s bare chest, the electric shock that rushed through his system caused his body to arch sharply and painfully against the restraints that held him firmly secured to the table.

~*~

River jerked as if she’d been shot and nearly collapsed against her brother. Her eyes clouded and her lips curled into a very unfriendly sneer as she recovered from the burst of pain that slammed into her head.

“Mei mei?” Simon’s arms came down around her while he glanced quickly over her body for injuries.

“They’re hurting him. Must go. Must go now!” River whispered urgently.

As they moved closer, they could hear Mal’s muffled screams and Jayne growled angrily beneath his breath. Simon clutched his small pistol and River un-holstered both of her side arms with deadly precision. Noticing the door in which they needed to penetrate was guarded by two well-armed men, River holstered her weapons instantly.

Scouring the area with a quick glance, River leapt over the railing of the catwalk above and into the guards waiting beside the closed door.

Simon’s eyes widened as she landed with the grace of a dancer and expertly delivered with her fists what no gun could have done faster. He gaped at her for a long moment before Jayne grabbed his shirt and dragged him down the steps.

Jayne nodded appreciatively at the bodies lying strewn and lifeless at River’s feet. “Well done, girl.” He reached for the door and addressed River. “Now when I pull this open, you take ‘em out. All of ‘em but Niska, hear me?”

“Niska belongs to Simon and Captain Daddy, Jayne.” River stated matter-of-factly and swiftly pulled the slim weapons into her hand.

As Jayne yanked open the door, River preceded him, firing one shot for each man standing in the room until her clips were emptied and she found herself face to face with three armed men – rifles aimed at her head.

~*~

“Will she be all right?” Inara glanced nervously into the room, her hands shaking.

“Her condition is being closely monitored,” the aid assured the worried former Companion.

“That wasn’t an answer.” Inara glanced over the aid’s shoulder to try and get a look into the room.

“I don’t know Miss Serra. Doctor Chai will be out shortly.”

Inara sank into the cushioned seat outside the room, her hands instinctively cradling her own belly. She closed her eyes and prayed. “Please, please keep Kaylee and the baby safe.”

When the door opened and a very weary doctor Melinda Chai slipped out, Inara pushed herself to her feet with as much grace as she could muster.

“How is she?”

The doctor held out her hand. “Sit, sit. Her water broke. So she’s going to have this baby whether we want her to or not.”

“So early?” Inara’s heart caught in her throat.

“About a month, maybe a little more.” Chai confirmed.

“She’s had so much stress in the last few weeks,“ Inara sighed regretfully.

“I know, I’ve read her file. I’d like her to wait a little longer, but I think her body isn’t willing to give us more time.”

“Will the baby be in danger?”

“All tests so far have concluded the baby will be fine. Provided there are no complications with delivery.”

Kaylee’s anguished cries pierced the momentary silence that had followed and the doctor whirled and pushed herself into the room, Inara at her heels.

“I want Simon!” Kaylee turned pleading eyes on Inara and reached a trembling hand out to her friend. “Please! ‘Nara please!” The girl was scared. More scared than she should have to be at a time like this. Having a baby was supposed to be a wonderful, joyous time, but instead Kaylee’s first time was filled with pain and heartache and more than just a little fear.

Tears welled in Inara’s eyes as she clutched Kaylee’s hand tightly. “I know, honey.” Inara used one hand to brush Kaylee’s damp hair from her eyes. “He’ll be here soon.” She hoped they would all be here soon.

“Promise?” Kaylee’s voice was small as she gritted her teeth through the pain.

Inara swallowed hard. “Yes, sweetie. I promise.” She had no way of keeping that promise, and if Kaylee had been in her right mind, she’d have known it. But she was distracted, hurting, and wanting her husband, and Inara’s words seemed to comfort her. With a heavy sigh, Kaylee leaned her back into the mattress, her contractions lessoning with each labored breath.

“You’re only at five centimeters, Kaylee. “ Chai informed the women. “It will be a bit of time yet.”

“Can you give her something for the pain?” Inara asked, her eyes desperate to stop at least some of Kaylee’s discomfort.

“Of course.” Chai inserted the needle and almost instantly, the monitor displaying Kaylee’s vital signs began to read much more normal levels.

“Please,” Kaylee whispered, her frightened eyes locked with Inara’s as the medicine began to take effect. “Please, I want Simon.”

TBC

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Next Chapter: Niska gets an unpleasant surprise.