The traditional obligatory offering to Boss Joss. Love the work, got bored, and decided to to run with it!

This is a story co-written with a very good friend of mine. Action, adventure, drama, sweet Kaylee/Simon stuff, and BIG DAMN hints of Mal/Inara.

The story gets a little more intense now, so here it goes. R&R your little hearts out, I really appreciate the feedback!

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Mal glanced up once more at the sun making his brow break a sweat. He cursed under his breath and gripped the door a might bit tighter. For the tenth time, he felt Jayne's fingers tap his shoulder.

"When they gonna let us go?" He asked, leaning forward. Mal shook his head, looking pleadingly at Zoe. She caught the look and gave an inward groan.

"Soon Jayne,” Mal insisted. “Now sit back and play with your gun or something." Jayne sat back like a grumpy child. Zoe glanced off to her own side, trying to see what was going on. The local authorities had stopped them in the mule, and then had the nerve to make them wait in here while they went to talk to the superior officer. What was that about? She could sense Mal's edginess right now. For one thing, he was humming and his eyebrow were twitching a bit too much to be happiness dancing around in his head.

"Sir." She said her voice a bit stern. To be honest the humming was damn annoying.

Mal's head jerked in Zoe's direction and he shut his mouth, glanced back at Jayne. Man was as always fiddling with his damn weapon. Mal was beginning to wonder if Jayne could care for another human being at all. Maybe it was just weapons he fancied.

He suddenly felt another tap at his shoulder. Mal whirled around glaring at Jayne. "Tap me once more about when were going in, and Jayne, I will toss you off the mule and leave you here high and dry." Jayne made a sad expression and lay back in his seat.

"I was just gonna ask if I could take a leak." He muttered glancing off into the distance. He pulled his weapon out once more and did some spins with it. When all else failed, at least he had his guns. They kept him entertained and at times they made good listener people. For when Jayne wanted to yell about Mal, Zoe or Jayne. Sometimes the doctor. Never Kaylee though. She never really pissed him off too much. She was just kinda there.

Zoe was not all that shocked by the captain’s outburst. She did suppress a chuckle and look the other way. Which only earned her a mighty hard glare from Mal.

..................................

The honorable Captain Reynolds and his band of miscreants would not have to wait much longer. Exiting the Sheriff’s Outpost beside the impounded mule, stepped a trio of decorated Alliance soldiers. And behind them, decked out in black Alliance fatigues, came Commander Kerrn Draedon, commanding officer of the small ship which now orbited the near moon of this backwater planet. Draedon stepped up to the mule, followed by two additional men. He made eye contact with the captain seated before him, and sneered. “Sergeant Reynolds. It’s been far too long.”

Mal's eyes racked up to the familiar voice that belonged to the man whom made Mal's life a living nightmare after the surrender. Gulping, he moved and jumped out of the mule in one big leap. Landing on the dirt in front of the passenger’s side. "Well I’ll be damned. It's the devil." He said putting his thumbs in his belt loops. "What are you doing in a back water town like this? Seems too low and homely if you ask me for the Alliance and all. Bet the heat is like being home though, right?" He asked a smirk crossing over his lips. Oh how this man would pay.

Draedon smirked, entertained by the man’s attempt at humor, when he was quite obviously perturbed by the Commander’s arrival. “You’ve certainly seem to have done well for yourself. You’ve even got yourself a promotion. Captain, is it?” He smiled coldly at the former Independent and his crew.

Mal rolled his eyes visibly annoyed by this monster. "And I see you’re still as much of a prick as ever." Mal reached out flicking one of Draedon's buttons. "Shiny." He said looking up into his eyes. He was not here to take this guys crap. He gave him hell before because Mal was backed into a corner and Mal was out in the open now he could handle this bastard even it alliance men would be on him in a second. Mal could still kill him before he could blink.

“Now, now,” he scorned the three criminals with a patronizing tone. “Have we really fallen so far as to resort to petty insults?” The commander smirked at Mal, glad to see that he could still get under the man’s skin. “Miss Alleyne,” Draedon nodded towards Zoe with a knowing eye. He’d been briefed regarding the incident at the compound owned by the so-called Mr. Universe. Her husband, one Hoban Washburn, had been killed by Reavers on the planet’s surface. No doubt that event left its scare.

Zoe jerked as the slime said her name. "It's Washburn, you ingrate." She said staring the man down. She attempted to move out of the mule.

Mal let out a low whistle. "Jayne." He said his back to the bigger man. Jayne reached out pulling Zoe back into the mule. Zoe sat in an obvious annoyed fashion. She was ready to lock and load and blow a hole through this bastard. Mal wasn't sure he could stand going to prison. For one thing, now that he thought about it he had Kaylee to take care of, and River god help her plus Jayne. Who would look out for that big idiot?

“As much as I’ve missed our legendary verbal sparring, we’re not exactly here to discuss the good old days.”

"I never intended to discuss any days with you. I was actually thinking about taking this here weapon and..." He felt a jab in his back which belonged to Zoe. "And polishing it nice and clean," he finished with a smirk. You could get into it for threatening an alliance soldier especially one as sadistic as Draedon.

One of the soldiers handed the commander a holopad, a set of schematics and a list of Serenity’s last known ports and registered cargoes. “My, gotten around, have we?”

"Yeah, what of it?" Mal asked with a glare.

Draedon smirked, amused by the fact that Mal and his fellow ex-Independent were still so damaged by their experiences from the war. A lone soldier stepped over to the superior officer, whispering something in his ear that made him smirk. The job was done. They had their leverage.

“Well, I’d love to sit here and chat, but I have more pressing business to attend to.” He glanced at the men surrounding him. “See to it that Captain Reynolds and his crew find their way back to the docking field.” Without a second glance to Mal, he returned the holopad to the Alliance solder beside him, turning on his heel. “Have a pleasant day.”

Mal kept a sour smile on his face whereas Zoe had no smile. No expression. A stone cold stare on Draedon. The miserable little man that thought he could ruin lives. Mal rolled his shoulders and turned, spitting as Draedon made his way out of there. Now he couldn't even do business because that bastard was planning on stopping him in way he could. He had a meeting to get to.

He sneered slightly and turned climbing back into the mule. Zoe started her up and Jayne had that confused look again. Mal let his arm hang out the side of the mule and he turned his head outward to watch the sand pass by them. Slowly and drifting they made there way out of the town and went for the docking bay.

Jayne leaned in and looked between Mal and Zoe. "Do I wanna know?"

Zoe who was a bit more willing to speak at the moment glanced at Jayne. "You don't," she answered, turning to look straight ahead again.

"Well, he sure was a gorram prick. Who'd that guy think he was?" Jayne asked leaning back into his seat.

Zoe gave a sigh and continued making their way back to the ship. "Alliance military back during the war. He's the guy that made Mal's and my life hell. Mostly Mal; he tended to talk back a bit more."

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Simon had been around town for half an hour or so. He and River were enjoying the shops. She was finding the most amazing rubbish to be the best looking stuff. Then again Simon was kind of liking it as well, but not enough to pay for it. He was kind of wondering when he'd get to run into Kaylee and Inara soon. Not that he was bored with River it was he kind of missed Kaylee was all. He had been getting closer with her and these things were hard sometimes. He was inspecting some sort of broom he figured.

He heard a crash and literally dropped the broom. High tailing it to the back of the store his eyes were searching for River. When he found a little kid throwing a fit on floor and he had knocked something over he sighed in relief. He thought something had happened to River. She was always so careful so she wouldn't have dropped something unless it was a dire emergency.

Inara waded through the now bustling crowd in the market sector, her heart firmly up in her throat. Kaylee was gone. She’d searched the entirety of the store (all three floors), questioned the store owners and anyone else, but no one had seen the young mechanic. She’d made her way into the center courtyard after nearly and hour of searching, her worst fears penetrating her attempts to remain calm. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of Simon, and almost sprinted in his direction. The Companion rushed into the store beside him.

“Simon!” Inara called out in a panic, finally catching up with him in the doorway.

Simon was about to back to pick up the broom when he heard his name. He half thought it was River, but it sounded more like Inara. Turning his head to her he saw her racing to him. He turned his body finally to face her, a confused expression.

She grabbed the young man’s shirt. “Simon! I can’t find Kaylee! She’s gone!” The Companion had lost all composure, no terrified that something had happened to her dear friend.

Simon stared at her, confused. "No, now wait. She couldn’t have gone far. You know Kaylee when she sees something that catches her eye she doesn't stop for nobody if she wants to take a look at it. Just calm down. We can search..."

Inara shook her head vehemently at Simon’s suggestion. “She’s not, Simon! I’ve looked everywhere. Kaylee wouldn’t have disappeared like that.” She clung to Simon’s shirt, at a loss for what to do.

River had been on the other side of the shelving, staring out into space as she was suddenly aware of the events occurring all around them. Hearing Inara’s pleas ring out in the room, she decided to reveal herself to Simon, who had been looking for her. River stepped into view from behind Inara, a disturbingly calm expression over her features. “The man in black has her now,” she muttered, staring at her brother with foreboding.

His words trailed off seeing River and hearing what she had to say. Suddenly he got a flashback at what River said last night about the death coming down upon them. The way she spoke was as if she knew it was going to happen before it had. He moved past Inara to River. Taking his sisters hands he stooped to look into her eyes. "What do you know River? I need you to tell me what you know now. You're not in trouble just tell me."

River looked down at her older brother, crouched down before her. “Kaylee’s with the man in black,” she said with certainty. The girl stared down at the ground, as if she was thinking very intently. Back on board Serenity, her awareness of events had been crystal clear. She knew what was going to happen with fair sureness. But now that things were set in motion, she wasn’t sure what to believe. River’s mind was an unstable place, quaking and ever-shifting, so much so that even now, she could not retrieve the memory of what she’d seen with Jayne on the bridge hours earlier.

River’s words chilled Inara to the bone. “Lao tyen yeh,” she gasped, stepping over to Simon’s side.

Simon was upset that his sister didn't know anymore, but least she knew the man in black. How many idiots wore black in this heat? Wait a second. The Alliance… black and gray. Sometimes just black. Did that mean something? Probably not why would they take Kaylee? They get mad she as flying wrong or something. He doubted it. It could have been some crazy back water people looking for a mechanic like that had taken him.

“Everything else is…clouded. Uncertain.” River glanced up to meet Simon’s gaze, her voice low and wavering. “It’s up to you now, Simon.” River revealed vaguely, her eyes hesitant for the first time in a very long while.

She placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder, urging him to stand. “Simon, we have to go. We need to find Mal.” The captain would be well into his negotiations by now, but for Kaylee’s sake, they had to get a hold of him.

"Up to me? River I don't know what that means." He said finally standing at Inara's request. His eyes went to the ground filled with confusion. Then they flickered to Inara. "You're right, but I don't exactly know where he had his meeting at."

River shook her head as Simon insisted he didn’t understand. “You’ll know,” she reassured him. But the girl was far from comforted. For the first time in her life, she was not sure where her brother’s true loyalties lay.

Inara, on the other hand, had quickly converted her panic into some useful form of resolve. “Our best chance is to get back to Serenity. We can call up the mule from there.” Gathering her thoughts, she led the way out of the store. “Stop wasting time!” She called back at Simon and River.

Simon wasn't getting his sisters new talents. She knew these things that Mal was so unsure of that it scared him terribly. "To the ship right." He said standing a bit stunned still. Hearing Inara's words his head jerked up and he reached out taking his little sisters hand gently. He lead his sister towards the ship with Inara. Catching up he kept a close eye on River holding her hand. "You have to calm down Inara. We're gonna find her. Mal will find her. He found me and River."

River obediently trotted alongside her brother as he drug her along, knowing full well that now was not the time to be struggling. The vision was coming back in bits and pieces, but the outcome was still a mystery to her. She watched Simon’s expression intently as they traveled, searching his eyes for some clue. It truly was in his hands now.

Inara chewed her bottom lip nervously as she continued her trek towards the ship. Simon tried his best to reassure her that Mal would straighten things out, and to some extent, she did believe that the captain would do everything in his power to get Kaylee back, but the fact still remained that the only ting left to do was place blame here. And the Companion could do nothing but look inward. This was all her fault. Kaylee was missing, with God only knew what kind of vicious thugs, and it was all Inara’s fault.

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Eventually, Simon, River, and Inara arrived at the hatch entrance to Serenity, the bay doors having been sealed shut for safety precautions, and the three made their way hurriedly into the main hold in the belly of the ship. Inara slammed her hand over the button to lower the bay door as she hitched up her skirt, rushing up the stairs and towards the bridge. “Keep an eye out,” she yelled orders at the young man. It only took one person to get to the com system and send a signal to the mule.

As Inara went racing to the bridge, the mule was already several feet from Serenity. Mal had the bay doors open, and Zoe drove them in and Mal got out without a word. He intended to go to his bunk, but he wasn't sure anymore. Heading past the others he went up heading to his bedroom.

Jayne was a bit lazier about climbing out of the mule. He adjusted his weapons belt as he got on his feet once more. Turning he looked over at Simon and River who looked like they seen a ghost. "What?" He asked looking at Zoe who was just as confused. Why were they glum and sad looking? Her and Mal had just experienced a brutal mind fuck. Jayne reached up scratching his bear quietly. Finally wanting to speak again. "Why you sad lookin’ shrimp?" He asked River. "Where's little Kaylee?" He asked.

Simon did as Inara told and when the others returned he was half relieved, but Mal didn't stay to chat. He was out of there fast. Jayne was confused and so was Zoe. He hung his head some and let his sisters hand go. He moved forward picking his head up. "Someone took her. River says the man in black, but I don't know what she’s talking about."

Jayne flinched and looked like he was gonna take Simon's head off. Jayne's gaze darkened as it went to River. He was more upset she knew and didn't tell anyone.

River caught Jayne’s expression, and felt sick to her stomach. The girl knew how the entire crew would feel. She had seen this coming and hadn’t said anything. But River had little chemical balance as it was; how could she have been responsible for this? She’d forgotten her prediction almost as quickly as she’d gotten it. That kind of precognition was extremely rare in general, and in River’s case, came few and far between in terms of her ‘special talents’.

River was angry enough with herself, but she knew that if she said anything that was remotely resembling ‘I forgot,’ there was going to be a lynching, personally supervised and executed by Jayne himself. “He’s coming…” she muttered softly, a look of utter humiliation and apology on her face.

Jayne's gaze was on River and he felt Zoe put a hand on his shoulder. He jerked out of her hold and lifted a finger to point at her. He almost spoke, but he stopped. Instead he reached out slamming his fist into the button closing the hatch.

"You heard her. Someone's coming. We should get out of here." He turned stalking off up to the kitchen. He was not in the mood. That little one didn't even tell them. He was more than pissed. This was Jayne wants to kill someone mode. You could hear his boots pounding against the metal.

Zoe looked down and then at the siblings. "You might wanna keep her away from Jayne for a while." She said nodding and going up after Jayne.

Simon felt a pang of guilt run through his body as Jayne stared at her like that. He was angry. Blaming it on River for not telling everyone. Simon was beginning to understand her brain wasn't as clear as he would have liked. The things she saw weren't like things she could play back. As Zoe left too he looked down. He had forced his world, his sister and his alliance trouble on these people and they were paying the price probably. He just didn't understand what his sister meant earlier.

"We should have you lie down." He said kicking into big bother mode.

River ignored everything that was going on around her, from Jayne storming off to Simon and Zoe’s conversation. She kept trying to tell herself that she hadn’t known, she had forgotten about Kaylee and the kidnapping, but it wasn’t true. She’d remembered. But she had been afraid. A stupid girl, that’s all River thought of herself. A stupid girl afraid of losing her brother. It had been her own sense of self-preservation that had kept her from warning the other’s about the man in black.

River shook her head quietly, her body nearly frozen by her self guilt. “Too late…”

------------------------

Inara stumbled up into the bridge, fiddling with the transponder as she connected to the trio’s signal. “Mal,” she called into the microphone, “Mal! Can you hear me?”

Mal could hear Inara screaming from the cockpit. What the hell was she doing? He cocked an eyebrow and went straight inside. Standing in the doorway he put his hands behind his back. "Yeah I can hear ya Inara. The whole gorram planet can hear you. What’s got you screaming bloody murder?" He asked an obvious face of discomfort showing. He wasn't sure how to handle the memories that flooded Mal right now. All the pain and the fright that rushed through his body back in those days.

Inara heard Mal, and spinning around, she staggered over to the Captain, having long since lost her air of gracefulness in the moment. “Kaylee’s gone, Mal!” She repeated to the man, her hands gripping the front of his coat insistently. “I turned around for just a moment, and she was gone. River says someone took her. That ‘man in black’ she as talking about last night.” Her words were coming out rushed and panicked, but she had no way of slowing herself down now. Her hands almost permanently attached to Mal’s front lapel. “We have to find her, Mal! Before they do something, we have to find her!”

Mal didn't quite get what she was saying. But he caught up to her. She was gripping his jacket and nearly screaming in his face. He leaned back some listening. Kaylee was gone. Little bitty Kaylee whom he was supposed to take care of was gone. He felt a pang of guilt run through his body and he looked down. His head shot up as she said man in black. Man in black? Like River was blabbing about last night. She didn't have the damn decency to warn Mal his little Kaylee was gonna be taken.

He put his hands over Inara's wrist not gripping them, but just holding them gently. "You gotta calm down Inara. I'll get her back. I promise, but I need you level headed. I will smack you like I smack Jayne if you don't pull it together." Which wasn't true because he wouldn't. "I know who has her, but you gotta trust me."

Inara calmed down slightly as Mal’s hands covered her own. Her manic state slowly faded into despair however, and she breathed deeply, her forehead gently coming to rest up against the man’s chest. She breathed out, almost scoffing at Mal’s empty threat. She nodded as he asked her to get her mind straightened out, but suddenly looked up at him. “You know who did this?” she repeated him questioningly. “Who would have taken her?”

Suddenly the shrieking alarm for an emergency transmission began to sound, and without warning, the entire com and video systems around the ship were hacked into all at once. The small screen in front of Inara and Mal flickered to life, revealing the smug expression of Kerrn Draedon. Pulled against him, a military-grade knife at here throat, was a thoroughly terrified Kaylee.

Mal was about ready to answer Inara when the com came to life. Going towards it he glared harshly at the screen.

“I believe you’ve misplaced something of yours, Captain,” Draedon’s voice sounded through the ship’s bowels. Kaylee struggled against her captor through the view screen, her hands bound behind her back as Draedon clamped his arm around her chest.

“Cap’n…” Kaylee strained out as Draedon jostled her a bit to frighten her. She yelped in terror, a steady flow of tears lightly streaming down her face. Draedon pressed the point of the blade into her neck, drawing out a painful gasp as she stiffened, her struggle instinctively slowing.

“Oh my God…” In shock, Inara pulled away from Mal, her eyes glued to the screen. “Kaylee!” she shouted in alarm, hands clamped onto the console in front of her. “Leave her alone!” she cried out, only moments before another scream from Kaylee erupted from the com system as the Alliance commander pressed harder with his knife.

Mal didn't flinch or move a muscle at Kaylee's screams. He was a war veteran he was used to it. She'd be alright as long as she didn't move too much. He leaned in putting his finger on a button.

"Kaylee you can't move. I need you to stay still for him alright. I don't think your doc boyfriend needs to be fixing you up once I kill ole Draedon here and get you home." He was trying to make her feel more at ease. He was going to get her back. "Big man buddy. Makes you feel tough."

Inara with the screaming was getting to him. "Jayne!" He yelled out behind him. Jayne came walking in and saw the screen. "Move her away." He said calmly. Jayne moved in front of Inara blocking her way. He put his hands on her shoulders so she didn't have to watch this.

As Jayne tore her away from the console, Inara ceased her cries of outrage, clamping down hard on her teeth as she came to the conclusion that the ruckus she was making wasn’t going to help Kaylee at all. Breathing back tears, the Companion peaked over the large gunman’s shoulder, watching the scene unfold over the view-screen in silence. She prayed that Mal knew what he was doing.

Zoe was about halfway to her bunk when she heard the commotion peeking in she saw the screen. Going back down the hanger bay she didn't go down the stairs just poked her head in. "Simon I reckon you should get up to the cockpit now." She said dashing back that way.

Simon followed Zoe and it wasn't till the stairs he turned around. "River. Go to my room and I'll meet you there. We'll try to make sense of everything I promise." He went back towards the cockpit and stopped in the doorway his eyes on the screen. He felt like he was gonna be sick. "Oh god..." Was all he could say.

River couldn’t listen to Simon’s request, not when she knew what was going on in the cockpit. Moments after Simon disappeared up the stairs towards the commotion, the young girl crept up in that direction, finally settling between the bulkheads of the entrance. Just out of sight of anyone, including the man on the screen, River pressed her back against the door and listened silently to the others. She shut her eyes, taking in every word intently.

Draedon was unfazed by Mal’s insults and threats. Draedon had the upper hand in this scenario, and there was nothing that the former soldier could do about it. “Now, Captain, I’m sure you know from experience that sheer thuggery without proper leverage is pointless.”

Jayne heard the man’s comment on the screen and spun around to face him. "I'll show you sheer thuggery you stupid bastard. I can kill you with my eyes closed..." Mal shoved him back and pointed to Inara. Jayne growled and turned to block her view the best he could. He knew Mal didn't want Inara seeing the bad stuff. He was a softie sometimes that it made Jayne sick.

Draedon held firmly onto Kaylee’s panicked form, no giving her a moment’s thought as he watched the crowd grow larger in the cockpit of Serenity. “Ah good, the whole family decided to join us.” With an equally calm demeanor, Draedon eyed the entire group, tightening his grip around Kaylee just for effect. “Actually, I come bearing a proposition.”

Mal licked his lips slowly and put his hands on the console's edge. He took a deep breath and lifted his eyes back up to the screen. He had to think about this hard. He wanted something. He was alliance. He almost instantly knew what he wanted, but he couldn't be sure.

Simon felt terrible. He was watching the one person he loved besides River be held by a crazy looking...man in black. River was right. He turned his head around looking out. She was right. Damn. He gulped and tried to move towards the screen intent on talking to this man, but Mal made him halt. He sighed and he felt Zoe at his side. Glancing over he caught her nod.

Mal let out a calm sigh and tilted his head to the side. "There’s only one thing in the galaxy you could want, Draedon. You ain't gettin it so get your head out of your ass. Why don't you come down here and I can repay you for processing." He said getting closer to the screen. He heard Simon coming closer and he put his hand out to tell him to halt.

“Everything’s not always about you and your childish vendettas, Malcolm,” Draedon sneered, not a moment later regaining his calm.

Mal stiffened as Draedon said his full name. "You don't get to call me that space trash doesn't address me like that." He said his eyes narrowing more on the beast on the screen.

“I have no concern for what you are willing to do or not do. And don’t for a moment take me for a fool. I know, just as the whole of the Alliance knows, who you harbor on your ship. And as such, I’m actually directing this particular deal at the honorable Dr. Simon Tam.” The commander’s eyes flickered with pride at his knowledge. “May I speak with him?” He pressed the blade firmly against the young girl’s throat.

Kaylee gasped for air, her pained cry echoing through the room. “Please…” She sobbed out loud, no longer aware if any one was even listening to her.

Mal glanced back at the young doctor and then at the monster leering at them. "You touch her again like that and I'll find you and torture you just to watch you squirm." He whispered and stood up straight.

Draedon smirked as Mal was finally baited into reaction for Kaylee’s sake. “Only at the threat of physical violence do you defend the girl? Interesting.” He was merely goading the Captain now.

Inara cringed at the sound of Kaylee’s cry for help, clamping her eyes shut in pain. This was almost too much to bear, but she wouldn’t dare leave the room as long as Kaylee was in this man’s grasp, being bartered with as if she were a piece of property being dealt over. Simon’s name cropping up entered all of their attention, and Inara spun to face the young doctor, shocked that he was being drug into this mess as well.

Simon stiffened quickly as he heard his name being mentioned. He looked in the screens direction and felt a lump in his throat. He glanced around the room clearly uneasy. He wanted to talk to him.

Jayne wasn't exactly happy about not yelling at that stupid bastard. He moved to stand with Zoe. He wasn't sure he could watch this. He turned and launched his fist into the metal. The bigger man clearly unphased by the pain. He exited the cockpit before he lost control.

Mal backed up and went to Simon. Leaning in to whisper to the doctor. He glanced down and put a hand on the mans shoulder. "He talks a lot. Likes to feel big. You can't show him fear. Keep it going. Keep Kaylee calm. Don't look fidgety." The boy nodded.

Mal stepped to Inara who was being kept at bay by Jayne. He nudged the man out of the way looking down at Inara eyes full of guilt almost shame. "She's fine."

Inara exhaled softly. She could barely meet his eyes, her own welling up with tears. She could barely stand up right now, let alone answer him. Inara cringed in physical pain whenever Kaylee’s sharp outbursts came over the com. This man was hurting her darling Kaylee. Monster, was the only word she could register in her mind for Draedon. Her lip quivering, she nodded softly, hugging her arms as she tried to make out the deal that the Alliance commander was striking with Simon.

Mal's eyes were no treat. He could see Inara was taking this pretty badly. He didn't know how to handle this. He felt as emotionally ill-equipped as Jayne. He almost envied him right now. Least he woulda walked away. Mal was stuck teetering on how to do the right thing. Slowly and surely his arms went out. He wasn't exactly how to go about it, but he hugged Inara close nonetheless. He pressed his head downwards cheek going into the top of her head. He let out a slow sigh and held her tightly.

Inara wasn’t expecting it, but welcomed Mal’s arms around her as the captain stepped to her. She could barely contain her tears as she rested her cheek against his chest, trying her best to recall any Companion training she had in reference to breathing control.

Draedon nodded as the elder Tam entered view. “Ah, the infamous Dr. Tam.” Kaylee saw Simon through the screen, suddenly realizing where the Commander was going with this.

Simon moved slowly towards the screen. Grabbing the chair he took a seat in front of the screen. Smoothing his shirt out and fixing his hair some, he put on his bravest face he could possibly muster right now. "What do you propose?" He asked his voice clear and unwavering.

“I propose a trade: an innocent life for a guilty one.” The boy would understand his meaning no doubt.

“You see, the Alliance may no longer have a need to silence you and your sister for the government secrets which you’ve released on the broad wave, but River is still a highly valuable commodity. Such a piece of technology is virtually priceless in their eyes.”

Kaylee would hear no more of this. She was terrified enough a the prospect of Draedon letting loose his men on her; She had seen a good sampling of the type of folk this ship was crewed with, and not a one could be passed as a decent human being. These were not stuffy Alliance officers; these were cold blooded mercenaries in Alliance uniform. But just the expression on her lover’s face after hearing the terms was enough to drive her mad. “Simon, don’t listen to him! Don’t let him get to River…” Out of sheer frustration, Draedon flipped the blade to its opposite and serrated edge, pressing just hard enough into the smooth skin beneath Kaylee’s neck to break the skin, drawing a thin stream of blood. The girl let out a harsh scream at the pain, now crying almost uncontrollably.

River, hidden in the doorway, Grasped at her own temples, muffling a scream herself as she felt the young mechanic’s agony. The girl slumped to the ground, curling up her legs to her chest as the Commander continued.

“Doctor, I don’t know if you understand the simplicity of what I am asking of you. Deliver the girl to my flagship, and I will release your lady friend, completely unharmed.”

There was a pause, as Draedon assessed that the young man did not understand the full gravity of this situation. “You do realize that I have a ship full of men, weary and longing from months out here in the black, searching for you and your sister. Not a woman among them for the better part of six months.”

Hearing Draedon proposition the doctor, Mal gave Inara a final squeezing hug and spun around to face the screen. The simple statement echoed a dangerous ground that the commander was treading.

Draedon’s eyes darkened. “I’ve promised them entertainment.” At the implication, Kaylee struggled further, but the occasional chuckle from the men behind her drowned out any sound from the girl.

Draedon’s face remained stoic. “You have an hour,” he said bluntly. “The moment that time is up, this girl’s life…and body…are forfeit.” He smiled coldly, his steely gaze penetrating into Simon’s. “I trust you can make an informed decision that will benefit all parties, Doctor.”

Simon couldn't speak much as he watched the monster before him. He flinched as Kaylee cried out telling him not to go through with it. Oh he would. He would stop this guy from hurting Kaylee. He nodded slightly each time and he felt his eyes getting almost damn misty.

“And captain,” He called over to Mal, “Rest assured; if my conditions are not met in the allotted time…She will die.” His lip curled in a smirk. “And you know I have never been one for idle threats.”

"You hurt her you..." Mal was cut off by the screen going black, leaving the crew in darkness.

Simon looked down finally and when the screen went black he didn't move from where he was sitting. He kept his head stooped and lifted a hand up to rest on his forehead keeping his head from resting on the console. He felt like screaming, but he could barely move from where he sat right now. He looked about as small as he felt.

Suddenly Mal slammed an open fist into the console and backed up. He put his hand to his chin and Zoe came up behind him.

"Sir..." She whispered.

"What Zoe?" He asked looking to his second.

"Jayne sir. He took off. I think we ought to find River and keep her safe so Jayne doesn't get any ideas." She said looking over his shoulder at Simon.

Since Mal had torn away from her suddenly, Inara was once again left by herself. She stepped out of the cockpit, wandering past River as the girl went inside with her brother. Inara made her way across the overhanging bridge, watching Mal as he moved around the cockpit.

"You're right." Mal said going out of the cockpit. He stopped though and looked to the pipes. There she was. What the hell was she doing there? "River. I need you to get us out of atmo and make sure the cockpit door stays shut. You and your brother are gonna stay in there till we get out of atmo." He didn't stop to talk anymore. Heading out he went down to cargo bay.

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At the same time, Inara was making her way over the catwalk. There was nothing that she could do to help right now. She was the one at fault for Kaylee being taken in the first place, at least in her mind; what could she possibly hope to do? Finally, Inara stepped into her shuttle, taking a seat at her bed.

A second thought to close the door behind her didn’t even register. She simply sat there, her eyes trailing the floor as she lost control to hold back the tears. A hand lifted to her face, Inara slowly broke down into open sobbing, the pain over what had just transpired far too much to bear.

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Translations:

Lao tyen yeh = Jesus

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More to come soon! Please R&R!