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, aka DeanWinchester here at FF.net. Action, adventure, drama, sweet Kaylee/Simon stuff, and BIG DAMN hints of Mal/Inara.

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

Several minutes later, on board the Moriarty, Draedon stood in front of the view screen, grinning with veiled satisfaction at Simon’s answer.

“I know this must have been a difficult decision for you, but I knew you would see reason, Dr. Tam.” Draedon gave a nod to several guards, who stepped out of view.

Simon sat quietly in front of the com screen. He had fixed himself up since the first conversation with this monster. He changed shirts and vests. His hair was nicely combed and pushed back. He wanted to show this guy that he wasn't turning him into some mess when on the inside Simon was dying slowly. His hands were folded in his lap and head held up high.

"Reason?" He asked somewhat confused by what this man saw as reason.

“I will send you the coordinates that you will arrive at.” Several moments later, a set of coordinates, located on one of the outer moons in the system, was sent to Serenity’s computer. “I trust you can find your way there without further delay.”

This was blackmail. He cleared his throat and nodded. "That won't be a problem." He said his gaze holding that monsters in the screen.

“Well, that’s very civil of you, Doctor,” Draedon offered with an appreciative nod. The boy was surprisingly calm, considering he was about to give his sister over to what he thought was the Alliance. The commander had to respect Simon for that, at least.

"Just make sure Kaylee is unharmed. My sister will have to be put under. There is no way your men could handle her alert and well. I'm sure you've heard of her run in with those Reavers. I trust you don't want that happening." He reached out slowly ready to sign off when he was ready. "I’ll bring her. The both of us will come peacefully. I do not intend to let her go with you alone."

“Well, thank you. Makes my job so much easier.” From behind Draedon’s shoulder, two thugs entered view, arms looped around Kaylee’s body as they marched her to their Commander. Their hands were getting just a bit too acquainted with the young mechanic, and Kaylee squirmed under their touch, her hands cuffed behind her back tightly. Draedon smirked at the girl, but returned his gaze to the doctor over the com.

“And please, Dr. Tam, I would appreciate it if you came alone. No need to get more people hurt in any more unpleasantness.” The screen went dark as Draedon severed the link.

Inara sat on her bed beside River, listening to Simon’s conversation as she waited impatiently for Mal’s decision. She’d been able to calm down considerably since Mal had come up with his insane plan to get Kaylee back. But then again, Mal had a way of making the craziest plans work out for the better…occasionally.

The transmission was broadcasting on all vid screens on the ship, including her own, so as Draedon specified the location, the Companion stood from her bed and moved into the pilot’s seat of her shuttle, prepping the engines for launch. Whether Mal wanted her to or not, she was going with them to the surface. If he wanted this to work, she was going to be there to back him up.

River watched the screen as Inara stood up from their seat. Draedon was far too complacent with this decision; he must know that Mal planned to double cross him.

“He won’t let them leave alive,” River said bluntly. Inara paused at the girl’s comment. She couldn’t deny that she was unnerved by the thought of just how dangerous this trip was going to be, but it only strengthened her resolve.

“Which is exactly what I’m sure the Captain has figured out already,” Inara responded from across the shuttle, setting in the coordinates into the flight plan. “Just be ready to head up to the bridge, soon, alright, bao bao?”

River nodded, waiting for the conversation with her brother to end.

Jayne and Zoe were standing in front of the weapons cage. Jayne gave Vera a pet and grabbed a red rag from a hook. He ran it over the machines smooth edges and looked up at Zoe. She looked stone cold and ready to roll. The com screen was rolling the conversation Simon was having with Draedon.

Mal stood quietly with them watching the two of them talk. He was resting his chin in his hand firmly. Finally he let his arms drop still in dress and shawl. "Be ready." He told them. He turned and left. Going off he went towards Inara's shuttle where he knew River and her were. Knowing on the arch way some he stepped inside and put his hands behind his back. He was fully aware how ridiculous he looked, but he had to do this for the kid. He held his chin up and soon found Inara at the pilot seat.

"What do you think you’re doing?" He marched over taking the shawl off his head.

Inara didn’t move from her seat as she heard Mal entering the living space of her shuttle. She wasn’t surprised by the Captain’s demanding question. No doubt he had no intention of ever letting her near Draedon or the meeting site.

“Getting the shuttle prepped,” she said bluntly, “We’re going to want to leave quickly as soon as Simon’s off the com with Draedon.” She flipped several switches at the side of the console, and a vibration began surrounding them as the engine sequence began warming up.

“You’ll want to get your crate in here, soon,” she suggested to Mal. Looking over her shoulder, she called out to River, who had just stood up after the link was severed over the video com. “River, honey, that’s your queue.” The girl nodded, heading out of the shuttle and stepping over onto the Bridge.

Mal wasn't much up for taking her with him. For one he was scared to death she'd end up dying. He couldn't take that.

"No. I can see that for the life of me I don't know why you’re here.”

She was speaking like she already made the decision. Boy was he freaked out. He couldn't take her could he? Maybe. If he made her stay in the shuttle then maybe he could keep her safe. She could be the one to get them out of there if they had to make a fast break.

Inara rolled her eyes at Mal’s complaints “Mal, most of your ‘brilliant’ schemes end up in a firefight or a run for our lives. Usually both, in fact.” She looked up at the Captain, a fire and determination in her eyes. “You’re going to want someone at the helm as soon as you get back on board with Kaylee.” They were going to get her back. There was no way that they could sit by and leave her in the hands of those thugs.

Mal was struggling to come up with another excuse. “You could get hurt and I don't exactly be wantin' you dead, Inara," he stumbled.

She returned her attention to the console. “Dying’s not exactly my plan, either, Mal,” she admitted softly, continuing her preparations.

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

Simon was trying his very best to not crack under the pressure. A man like Draedon might as well have fear radar. He nodded as the screen went black, and the young doctor let out a large sigh and put his head in his hands.

“Time to go,” River spoke quietly to her brother, her face reassuring as she thought about their plan.

He jumped when he heard River behind him. He looked backwards and nodded. "Alright." He got up slowly and turned towards her. He put on a pleasant smile and reached out putting a hand on her shoulder.

"You be safe. Don't be afraid to ditch Jayne if he uses you as a shield." He grinned wider and reached out hugging his little sister. He kissed her forehead one he pulled back. He backed up and went around his sister. He headed out of the bridge and into the cargo hold. He took the crate up the stairs onto the catwalk.

Going towards Inara's shuttle he quietly wheeled it in. Peeking in on Inara and Mal he gave a tentative nod. "We're taking this shuttle?" He asked taking his hands off the roller's handle he used to tote the crate.

Looking back at Simon he looked down at Inara with a glare. "Fine, but you do not leave this shuttle when we land got it. Simon go get ready." He took his shawl up and wrapped it around his head again in furious motions. "You all got a death wish." He sat down quickly and had that pouty look.

It took Mal long enough to agree, but when he did, Inara had a hard time holding back her smug grin. She always did know how to get her way with Mal when it counted the most.

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

Mal sat quietly with a pout on his face. He was not happy with any of this. Hell if the doc came it was only part of the plan. But if she came too it could be a very bad risk. One he wasn't sure he could keep his head clear with her around if a fire fight erupted. Doctor could handle himself on most days. Hell he had decked Mal mighty hard.

The ride was quiet. Simon sat in Inara's living quarters. He hadn't made much of a peep the whole ride. He ran his hands down his thighs and to his knees with a sigh he hunched forward. It was then he noticed that they were landing. He almost shot up from the bed. Mal got up from the chair once they had landed.

Inara gently set the shuttle down several kilometers away from the landing. Turning off the engines, she still kept the systems running in case they needed, and they mostly likely would, a quick getaway. She sat there, watching Mal prepare from the corner of her eye as she thought a silent prayer to Buddha.

"Alright." He said going into her living quarters. Taking the lid off the crate there was his gun belt at the bottom and another gun Mal could hand to Simon. His eyes went to Simon. "When you give the crate to Draedon ask for Kaylee at the same time. When I'm close I want you to say the signal words; he'll just think you’re scared for her." He nodded and looked back at Inara.

"If I don't come back and Simon and Kaylee do you get your asses back to Serenity. That’s a direct order." He moved forward and climbed in. Simon put the top over the crate and sighed.

Inara stood as he and Simon began making final plans, and she nodded quietly at the captain’s order, although her expression clearly showed that she didn’t at all like the sound of that. The crate was closed, and Inara stepped over next to Simon, running her hand gently across the edge of the lid.

“Bieng bu xue ren,” she recited quietly to the young doctor, wiping out a wrinkle on the sleeve of his dress shirt. “Make sure it doesn’t come to that?” Referring to Mal implying a firefight.

Simon was nervous as hell, but he looked calm and he was neatly dressed for this. He was still Simon Tam after all. He held his head high and nodded to Inara. He gave her a simple smile and grabbed the dolly and leaned it back. Wheeling it backwards he went towards the doors to leave. He could hear Mal rattling around on the inside. Strings of Chinese curse words coming out softly. He got the Captain out of the ship and wheeled the dolly across the land.

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

Several minutes earlier, Draedon, followed by a small group of mercenary soldiers, stepped off the platform of the Moriarty’s reconnaissance shuttle. Kaylee, disheveled and slightly bruised, was forcibly tugged down the ramp, two guards gripping her upper arms tightly. She winced against the pain, barely able to struggle anymore from the terror of the last hour.

The young girl had been pushed within an inch of her sanity by the threats and eyes of the men on Draedon’s ship. She had literally been in fear for her life the entire time. And now to make things worse, Simon had agreed to meet with these men. Kaylee had the sinking suspicion that Draedon still had a trick or two up his sleeve. But she also knew that the Captain wouldn’t have just rushed into this without a plan…well, she hoped anyway.

It wasn't exactly prime climates for the young doctor, but it was relatively simple word. He leaned down to whisper into the crate. Still out of sight from Draedon. "We're close. Stay quiet. Lean into the corner." He stood up straight and continued. Simon Tam was a man who tried to keep calm under pressure. He was a Doctor. They didn't crack. They didn't break. They held fast and were extremely resourceful.

Kaylee was pulled again to the side as Simon appeared through the hills off to the side of the plain rocky valley where they had agreed to the trade. The only visible injury on her, besides the clear red cut across her throat, was the thin blood red line down her lower lip, where it had been split. One of Draedon’s men had done it early on in her capture, as she struggled to free herself. A strike to the face had been enough to teach her that no amount of fighting back was going to keep her alive. Her eyes lifted to the distance as she saw movement. Simon was hauling a large, very familiar looking crate towards the site. She kept silent, watching helplessly as Draedon moved toward the young doctor, looking the container over.

It wasn't long before Simon finally let the crate fall to rest and he was standing before Draedon, his men and Kaylee. "My sister and me as you ordered." He said keeping his body stiff.

“Very good,” Draedon said distractedly, hands firmly behind his back. He circled the container, pulling out his pistol with what resembled boredom. “Take the good doctor,” he ordered two more of the handful of men.

As ordered, they rushed forward, grabbing Simon’s shoulders, and held the young man at gunpoint. Draedon smirked as they pulled the doctor back over near Kaylee. The man holding Kaylee pulled her closer against him, grinning lewdly at Simon as he pressed the barrel of his pistol into the girl’s scarred throat.

Simon wasn't smiling. He was stern and trying to appear with any emotion for this man. He was seized and he accepted it with a glare.

“Just keep this in mind, Doctor Tam,” Draedon reminded him, nearing the crate and reaching out with his free hand for the lid. “If your dear little sister is not in the condition you’ve described, you’ll have the distinct pleasure of getting to watch your lady-friend receive a bullet to the head.”

On queue, the thug cocked the gun back, leering in anticipation as he pulled Kaylee painfully close to hid body.

They took him off to the side and he watched Draedon approach the crate. The commander grabbed a corner of the sealed crate, lifting it with a grunt. The lid flew back, hitting the dirt with a thud as Draedon peered in at the form of River Tam, cramped in a fetal position. The shadows hid her form, but for some reason, he figured that she was a bit larger than he’d expected…

Simon tried his best to hide whatever excitement was bubbling up inside of him. He cleared his throat some and that’s when he looked over at Kaylee and her captor.

"Just don't hurt her…"

And just like that, Mal jumped to his feet. Gun raised he put the weapon to Draedon's head. With his free hand he ripped the shawl off his head. He tilted his head to the side and watched Draedon's face.

"Look at that. I managed to one up you, Draedon. You shoot Kaylee I blow your brains out and murder your crew right here." He reached into his gun belt keeping his eyes on Draedon.

"Simon!" He hollered. Simon jerked his arm free from one of the men’s holds and slammed his free elbow into his gut. He ducked lower and shoved the last guy off him. Turning backwards he backed up and caught the gun Mal threw towards him. Jayne had taught him that back on Serenity when preparing for this. He could thank the mercenary for something. He stood a couple feet from the crate his weapon trained on the man holding Kaylee.

"Stop smiling." He ordered the larger one.

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

River took her seat at the pilot’s station, rechecking the trajectory for Serenity as soon as the Captain and Simon left. The plan was that they would makeshift their own cloaking device with jamming technology that they usually used for getaways. River had made some quick modifications, and on top of hacking into their video feed systems, there was a good chance that they could distract the crew long enough to sneak on board the single ship that Draedon commanded. If they played their cards right, River, Zoe, and Jayne should be able to take out the skeleton crew that the Commander had loaded his ship with.

Jayne was sitting uneasily on the steps in cargo bay. Zoe was leaning back against the mule waiting on River to work her magic. He was holding Vera nice and gently. He wasn't nervous. He was actually looking forward to a good fight. One without gorram Reavers. Boy was he not looking to take those boys on again.

Zoe looked calm and easy. She was always this way though. Since Wash she was ok with battle. Not like last time when she nearly lost it taking on the Reavers. Jayne wasn't too smart, but he chalked it up to be the guilt and the pain of losing Wash. Not that he understood her pain or anything he was just kind of finally figuring this stuff out.

River gently flew Serenity passed the moon’s orbit, following the signal left from the ship’s second-rate cloaking device. Based on the quality of his vessel, she suspected that Draedon hadn’t been involved with the Alliance for quite some time. No self-respecting officer would fly with a crew of mercenaries in an outdated ship in such poor shape. They neared the location, and River looked out to the ship, floating out in the shadow of the next nearby moon.

And there it was; the Moriarty, its ID signature clouded from normal sensors, but plain as day to see with the human eye. Catching the signal from the ship’s com system, River hacked into the sensor array, uploading the decoy readings: one of the black starry void around them, completely blank. She read that the signal feed was on, and found the empty shuttle docking gear left by Draedon’s company.

With almost inhuman skill, River steered Serenity towards the shuttle bay dock, easing the ship’s rear hatch into the Moriarty’s access bulkhead. With a small, barely noticeable tremble, River successfully landed the ship against the Alliance cruiser. She jumped from her seat, rushing out of the bridge and into the main hangar.

She stepped down the stairwell, making her way over to the mule where Zoe was leaning. The girl grabbed a rather large, silver plated handgun from the side armory that they’d compiled for the hit. Cocking back the pistol, River stared out at the back door. “Out turn,” she said quietly.

Zoe was just waiting for the time. The time to fight. The time to kill the people who had taken another part of her family away. She wouldn't let them take her without a fight. Jayne looked ok holding Vera. He slung her over his shoulder and checked his other side arms. Jayne he liked weapons. Zoe had allowed him to take some grenades just because he would have whined the whole time.

When River came down and spoke up, the first mate cocked her weapon. "Bout damn time," She said falling into step behind the smaller girl. Jayne joined them. He pulled on his hat with the flaps and grabbed Vera securely in one hand and the other he drew a side arm.

River nodded, making her way over to the exit hatch, punching the button off on the side panel that would equalize the pressure in the next section. With a nudge, she swung the door open, pistol raised up beside her cheek. The Moriarty wasn’t nearly as large as one might’ve guessed, only three or four times the size of Serenity herself.

Stepping out into the empty hallway, River kept her steps light to not make too much noise in her big combat boots. Waving Zoe and Jayne to follow in a rather military fashion, she remained silent, paying close attention to the area in front of them in case any of Draedon’s men arrived.

Zoe and Jayne moved behind River. Jayne lead with his pistol the whole time. One thing he learned is you best not get caught without your weapon raised up. Zoe was wide eyed and ready. The hallway they were in was slightly deserted. Zoe was clearly aware that River held some sort of weird skills in her head for this, but she just wasn't sure what was going to happen. Going forward with them Jayne kept his eyes peeled.

A patrolman stepped into the empty hallway ahead of them and he was moving away. Jayne took it upon himself to dispose of this man. Putting Vera over his shoulder and putting his sidearm away he grabbed his knife and moved frighteningly light for a bit man. Grabbing him in a choke hold he brought the knife forward slicing it across the mans throat. Holding him as he twitched for a few moments he dropped him onto his back lightly.

River moved forward passed Jayne and the fallen man, catching the sounds of several men inside the storage locker, playing what sounded like some game with betting dice as they hooted and hollered together in the small enclosure. Moving swiftly with a dancer’s grace, River stepped out of view of Zoe and Jayne, making her way into the room. Nothing could be seen from their vantage point, but after several swiftly silenced yells of alarm, and the pounding and cracking of a large pistol and small combat boots striking faces, River reemerged, completely unscathed.

Now holding another gun in her once free hand, the girl waved Zoe and Jayne on, as she made her way to the bridge of the Moriarty. She passed one last hallway, missing the two soldiers just turning around the corner.

“You! Hey!”

River paused where she stood, glancing across the hall at the two burly men, now drawing their pistols and moving towards her.

Jayne went along following this little girls command. She knew what she was doing and he wasn't afraid to follow her into this battle if she could lead them to a victory. Zoe went on ahead of him as he stopped hearing some men coming down a hallway yelling at River. He glanced back noting the girl standing still.

He lifted his hand pulling a grenade from a strap on his chest. He stepped forward in three large steps and wrapped an arm around Rivers stomach. "Fire in the hole." He said bitting off the pin. He lobbed it down the hallway and moved to the side using his body to shield River. Lord knows Mal would be pissed if he let the little one go boom.

River was startled as Jayne grabbed her by the waist, protecting her from the explosion from his thrown grenade. She slipped out of his grasp almost immediately after the charge went off, sensing that the two men were most certainly dead, and that the tremor from the explosion definitely caught the attention of the men remaining inside the bridge. She quickly stepped to the door, punching it open as she swung around the corner, letting off several rounds of ammunition.

There were at least a dozen men in the room, all now fully alert to the fact that they were under attack. Mostly brutish mercenaries, they pulled out whatever manner of pistol and rifle they could, letting out a barrage of bullets after River had managed to take out about three of them with their guard down. River swung back to safety off to the side of the door entrance as the bullets rang out passed their heads.

Jayne didn't protest to letting her go. He moved in behind her. Zoe had already taken up against the wall on the other side of the doorway. Holding Vera up Jayne moved to the doorway not afraid of flying bullets. He opened fire with Vera on the room. Oh how he loved his baby. Jayne took three before he switched posts with Zoe.

Throwing his back against the wall he stayed out of sight and Zoe went in behind him. She stayed low on one knee. She had her traditional weapon and a side arm for extra measure. Her three went down and she nodded to River. Rolling to the side where she was out of the bullets. She was up.

Immediately after hiding back behind the bulkhead, River reached down into her boot, extracting another clip of ammo and clicking it into place. She stood stoic at the side of the doorway, watching sidelong as Jayne and Zoe exhausted their first rounds. She lifted both pistols high into the air, she stepped into the wide open doorway, making her way through the pillars and archways of the Alliance cruiser’s bridge.

She opened fire on the few remaining mercenaries, only needing one shot per man. She used both pistols, aiming each in an opposite direction as she moved, taking out the last few remaining. Let loose her final clip, River stood there in eerie silence, seemingly taking in the carnage around her.

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

Inara sat at the controls of her shuttle, waiting with anxiousness as Simon and Mal made their “deal” with Draedon. Inara knew that this was not going to end well, she just knew it. Nearly fifteen minutes had passed now. She knew the trip to the site would only take about five. Her stomach dropped at the thought of what was most likely going on.

Inara could no longer take the waiting. Standing and making her way over to her bedside table, the Companion pulled open a drawer, grabbing out of it a sleek personal handgun. Kept especially close to her bed in case of the inevitably frequent emergency. She checked the ammo, and slid over to the exit of the shuttle, tugging it open as she stepped out to the blaringly sunny terrain.

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

Kaylee was shocked to see the Captain, decked out disturbingly in one of little River’s dresses, pop out of the crate at Simon’s queue. She was even more shock as the doctor snatched a gun thrown to him and threatened the man holding her hostage.

“Simon, no! There’s more of ‘em!” She rasped out as her captor squeezed her throat, effectively shutting her off from air. She clung desperately at his large fist wrapped around her neck. The thug did not do as Simon commanded, lifted his gun to point at the young doctor’s face.

“Try it boy!” the thug sneered, “Just see if you can’t hit your girlfriend aiming at me.” He concealed the majority of his face behind Kaylee’s head, his gripping only tightening.

Draedon had definitely not seen that coming. Now standing helpless, his own pistol trapped at his side, the former commander stared down the barrel of his gun to meet gazes with Captain Malcolm Reynolds.

“Well played,” he murmured, seeming not at all phased by this turn of events. The meeting location was merely a few meters away from Draedon’s ship, and as the man whistled, three more men came barreling out from down the ramp, guns drawn.

“My move.” Fairly confident that the three new guards had their pistol, shotgun, and rifle directly aimed at Mal’s head, Draedon’s smile faded. “Drop your weapons,” he ordered. When no response came, he glared at Simon. “Now!” He growled.

Mal's eyes stayed trained on Draedon. He wasn't the least bit scared when more men showed up. He was very calm. He kept his breathes labored and easy.

"I'm not lowering my pistol. You give the doctor Kaylee and let them leave." He stared coldly into Draedon's eyes. "Difference between you and me is I'm not afraid to die. If you gave me a choice of dying to save that girl over there I'd take that anyday." He gulped and let his eyes flicker to the man who had Kaylee and then back to Draedon.

Kaylee listened silently as Mal defended her. As sweet as his words were, it didn’t make her any less terrified about the situation they now found themselves in. She met Simon’s gaze, pleading silently with him to find a way out of this.

"Let me ask you something can your men fight without a commander?" Mal asked raising his eyebrows. "What’s to say I blow your head off would they even fight anymore. No pay day. Certainly no glory. I'm gonna ask you one last time commander let my mechanic go and you let her go on her merry way with the doc. You and me can settle this out here and I'll let you do whatever you want."

Simon wasn't the least bit scared by the bigger man in front of him. Ok. Maybe he was a bit scared, but he could handle it right now. His eyes watched Kaylee and then they flickered to the men coming out of hiding. He looked towards Mal his eyes scanning the more experienced mans face.

“So the mighty Sergeant Reynolds has grown a spine and a conscious? My, it has been too long…” Draedon stifled a chuckle. He may have been very confident about his upper hand here, but he was no fool; Mal was out for blood, and any antagonizing would certainly end in a deadly mess.

"I've always had a spine you hwoon dahn." He tilted his head back some so he could keep Draedon in his sights and Kaylee as well. She looked mighty scared and the guy holding her wasn't making it easier.

“My men outnumber you two to one,” he threatened coldly. “And they have been clamoring for a good kill since we began our trek across this ass-end of the galaxy. I don’t think they’ll have any qualms about killing you just for sport, even if you did kill me.” The expression on the thugs’ faces read just as he described. He glanced over at Kaylee, still held firmly against one of his hired hands.

“More importantly, I’m the only thing ensuring that they behave themselves around your girl, here.” His gaze returned to Mal with a smug expression. “You wouldn’t want anything unfortunate to happen to her, know would you?”

Suddenly, Kaylee cringed as the man holding her lowered his head to whisper in her ear. “Things start getting hairy, I’ll make sure you’re nice ‘n safe, darlin’,” he promised darkly, “You ‘n me’ll take a nice walk over to the shuttle, spend some nice quality time together.”

Kaylee pulled her head away from his, disgusted by the tone of his promise. “Bizway,” she spat out at him nastily, never letting her eyes leave Simon’s, the only sight keeping her calm at this point.

Catching the incident in his peripheral vision, Mal pushed the gun further into the commanders forehead glaring. "Tell your perverted guard over there to stop freaking out my mechanic. He better know that he won't get to touch her once that that doctor over there will blow a hole right through his head."

At that Simon looked confused. He was doing what? He didn't voice it. These guys were already not taking them seriously. Mal carefully got out of the box the gun still trained on Draedon.

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

Inara steadily made her way up the slope and between the large, rocky hills towards the meeting site. Squinting in the blinding sun, she caught sight of Mal, still standing in the middle of the crate, gun drawn and ready to fire. There was an entire party of Draedon’s men surrounding her three companions, and her walk slowed to a stand still. There was nothing she could do right now without being noticed. She cursed mentally at her helplessness here, gripping her pistol tightly in her fingers.

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

"It's gonna be a pity when your brains all over this ground and I'm flying away clean and clear." He side stepped now keeping his head clear. "Why don't you just let her go, Draedon. You don't need her anymore. You don't really wanna take the others in. This is just to get into good graces. Wouldn't it feel much better to have me strapped down onto a table torturing me than doing that?" He cocked his head to the side mockingly.

Simon wasn't quite sure what to do with this bigger guy, but it was not looking good. He slowly lowered his gun and nodded to the guy holding Kaylee. His eyes stayed locked with Kaylee's and he was plotting.

Draedon watched from the corner of his eye as two of his men circled the crate and paused behind Mal’s line of sight.

“Strong words from a man in a sun dress,” he mewed out sarcastically, “And for the record, lilac is simply not your color…” Without warning, one of the two thugs leapt at Mal, grasping his arms tight against his sides as he forced him to the ground, the captain’s torso impacting with the side of the crate painfully.

As the two stumbled to the ground, the thug pulled Mal’s arms behind his back, pushing him hard into the dirt. Draedon circled him, as the other two men went after Simon equally as fast.

“Simon!” Kaylee screamed out her lover’s name, tearing at her captor’s arms, leaving scratching and only causing him to squeeze her chest in retaliation. The wind knocked out of her, she suddenly heard a crack, and cried out in agony as a twinge of pain shot up her torso.

Ignoring the scene off to the side, Draedon lowered to crouch beside the man holding down the captain with some difficulty. “Come now, you never really thought this was simply about the reward on the Tam’s, did you?” Draedon’s eyes glowed coyly. “I haven’t been in the good graces of the Alliance for some time now…And I don’t think that bringing those two whelps in would hardly do anything to change that.”

He glanced casually at Kaylee as she screamed out in agony. “It’s true; I was more intrigued about you, Malcolm.” He leaned in closer. “But those close to you are even more enticing targets. Mark my words, boy, I will see every last trace of your filthy hoard of Independents wiped of the face of the ‘verse! But you…you I will have particular fun in breaking.” Draedon pulled away hurriedly, raising his pistol high in defense. “Kill them!”

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

Inara saw the commotion begin very early, and used the opportunity to get within firing ranged. She may have been deceiving as young and delicate as she was, but the Companion knew her way around a ranged weapon. One of the many odds and ends one picked up in the Training House. Diversity in skill was a necessity of any self-respecting Companion.

“Mal!” she exclaimed, quickening her pace as she saw a man several yards away tackling the captain. Still in a near headlong sprint, Inara lifted her pistol, taking aim and firing. She struck the main deep in his shoulder, and he tore away from Mal in pain, grasping as his fresh bullet wound. Draedon, distracted by the now wailing man below him, suddenly glanced up at the direction where the shot came from. Glaring hard at the woman now several feet away, the commander lifted his gun and let out several shots.

Mal was not aware of two men behind him. Though when he was knocked to the ground hitting the crate in the process he gave a yelp. He was held to the ground hard and he could feel his arms behind him. He struggled and squirmed. He wanted to get free so he could show that bastard what he was made of now.

Simon was less then thrilled of what was happening. Watching helplessly as Mal was taken to the ground just like that. And then two men were coming at him. He didn't know what to do, but Simon lifted his weapon and he opened fire.

The kick from the gun made him stumble backwards a few times, but when he finally stopped firing he was shocked to the find they were on the ground bleeding. With a shocking look at his weapon he looked upwards. Mal found this situation not to be good. He found hard till the man fell off him and went to the ground in pain.

Looking back he saw Inara standing there with a weapon. Shit. Mal was up and on his feet in seconds. Running as fast as he could he put a foot on a rock and threw his body forward into the line of fire.

"Inara down!"

He grabbed her shoulders to pull her downwards as he felt the impact of two bullets cutting through his gut. He froze, his gaze meeting Inara’s with a panicked silence. She didn’t realize what had happened until Mal began to go slack against her, collapsing to his knees.

“Mal!” she cried out in alarm, gripping his sides in vain as he fell down against her.

.................................. To be continued! Please R&R! ..................................

Chinese Translation: bao bao = darling Bieng bu xue ren = “The edges of the swords not being stained with blood - win victory without firing a shot”