"Bad Business" Annie M (trekgirl@blueyonder.co.uk)

Part: 4/6

See part one for disclaimers and summary

~~/\~/\~~

"We'll see you in a week or so," Wash called over the comm as Serenity broke orbit at first light the following morning. "And don't worry so much. Anything that hit that moon is probably long gone by now," he said confidently.

"You're probably right, but watch yourselves anyway, okay?"

"Sure thing, 'Nara. See you soon."

Wash cut the link and concentrated on flying the ship, feeling Serenity responding to him as he guided the controls. "Here we go, boys," he whooped to his herd of plastic dinosaurs adorning the flight console.

Flicking the internal comm button, he called down to the engine room. "Kaylee, we good to go?"

"Everything's shiny, Wash," she replied. "Go for full burn whenever you're ready."

Turning his attention back to the ship, Wash purred at Serenity. "Come on, baby, show poppa how much you've missed him."

Finally clearing the atmosphere of Talos, Serenity's rear end lit up and the ship streaked away from the planet into the welcoming black.

"God, it's good to be flying again," Wash beamed.

/\~/ As soon as Morfan had come into sensor range, four days after leaving Talos, Wash had called the captain to the bridge. Mal had arrived quickly, Zoe following close behind, and all three watched as the small grey-brown moon drew closer.

"Keep your distance, Wash, circle around," Mal instructed as he stood next to the pilot.

Zoe, needing no instruction, worked behind her husband monitoring the rear vid.

Wash set a course, checking the helm as he steered. The space around the moon seemed calm enough, no ships in range and no debris in the outer atmosphere.

"Take us in," Mal ordered quietly, eyes still glued to view outside their windows.

Serenity rumbled and shook as she dove down into the moon's atmosphere, levelling out and returning to a smooth glide once Wash had eased her through the turbulence.

Checking his scans of the surface Wash looked up. "It looks pretty dead down there, Mal. I'm not picking anything up, a few intermittent power spikes from all over, but that's all."

"Power spikes?" Mal asked

"Their generators maybe?" Zoe speculated.

"Hard to tell," Wash answered. "I'm guessing most Fed bases have some sort of shield grid in place, so people like us are less likely to know what they're up to. You guys would know better than I would."

"Could be shielding," Mal conceded. "Can you spot any ships down there?"

Punching up several buttons Wash studied his readouts before pointing to one of the screens. "There," he said, "that's got to be an Alliance shuttle. I can bring us in closer for a look."

"Do it, but do it slow. I ain't in the mood for no surprises."

Flying cautiously Wash moved in on the coordinates, the dry and barren surface of Morfan kicking up dust as he brought Serenity in lower.

In the distance they could see three single-story buildings lying small distances apart, the largest one standing between the smaller two. The shuttle Wash had spotted was on the ground in front of the largest complex, and bringing Serenity in slowly, he let the ship hover over the structures.

On the ground there were no signs of movement, or any hint of conflict.

"Zoe?"

Checking her monitor, Zoe answered, "Nothing on rear vid, sir. We going in?"

"Looks like. Wash, set us down, close to the main compound." Flicking a control above his head, Mal activated the comm. "Jayne, saddle up the mule, Zoe and me are on our way down," he instructed.

"Mule's ready, Cap," Jayne came back. "Them boys dead or what then, huh?"

"Not rightly sure. Figure we'll find out soon enough though," he said cutting the link. Turning to Wash Mal instructed, "Watch our backs. I figure the preacher can keep a pretty good watch on the rest of the ship."

"Sure, Mal."

Signalling for Zoe to follow him Mal left the bridge.

Zoe lingered for a few moments, caressing Wash's neck and shoulders in a parting gesture. Wash turned to his wife, and controlling Serenity's landing with one hand while he stroked her hip with the other he whispered, "*Xiaoxin, bao bei.*"

Bending to kiss him briefly on the lips, Zoe replied, "*Ni ye, zhangfu*."

~~/\~/\~~

The Alliance cruiser Hessen reached Talos three days after Serenity's departure. On arrival Commander Choi was immediately summoned to give the Hessen's captain a briefing. Wasting no time, Choi explained in detail the activities of raiders in the system and the more pressing concern of his lost men on the Morfan moon.

"Let me see if I understand you correctly," the Hessen's captain, Joseph Santos, said, his tall frame pacing back and forth across his office. "You sent out a transport vessel, captained by a former Independent officer, to investigate your theories on behalf of the Alliance?"

"Captain, as I explained, our man power on Talos has been severely depleted. We were barely able to muster enough men for the assignment on Morfan. Sending another platoon out into the unknown would have been reckless."

"Commander, the Serenity's crew are known thieves! And you sent them on their way without any sort of military presence whatsoever; what were you thinking?"

"I admit it's a calculated risk."

"Calculated risk," Santos mimicked wickedly turning to stare at Choi. "And all because of you think there's a pack of flesh eating savages wreaking havoc in your territory?" The Hessen's captain shook his head and sighed. "Commander Choi, no offence, but even my eleven year old daughter wouldn't bat an eye at such a ludicrous suggestion; the stories about such people are just campfire tales."

"I believe that they're very real."

"Hmm," Santos remarked pacing again. "I'll send a wave to Central Command; get their opinion. We leave orbit in a few hours, that should be enough time to complete the transfer of temporary replacements to your base here, shouldn't it?" Santos queried.

"Yes."

"Good. Can I also assume that you'll be wanting to accompanying us on the journey?"

"Of course," Choi replied enthusiastically.

~~/\~/\~~

Serenity's ramp opened up and Mal, with Zoe and Jayne balanced behind him, made the short trip on the mule towards the main compound. The ten-foot high steel gates surrounding the building were open and Mal stopped the vehicle just inside. All three got off, and after checking their audio links with Wash, made their way forward cautiously.

The entire area thrummed with sound, a bass rumbling that went on unabated at their approach.

"I guess those power spikes must be their generators," Zoe commented. "Never known any Fed base have more 'an one though."

"It is a curiosity," Mal agreed. "We'll check it after; let's do the thing first."

Mal took point, Zoe and Jayne at his rear, their weapons raised. Mal had a pistol out and ready, two more strapped to his thigh and another tucked into the waistband of his pants. Around his waist he carried glow sticks, a precaution in case there was no artificial light. Zoe's shotgun was cocked and she had pistols strapped under each armpit, grenades around her waist and her vest armour on. Jayne wore a bandoleer across his chest. An assortment of knives and guns were strapped to his thighs and waist. Vera was held protectively in his arms.

They checked the shuttle first. The interior had been stripped of its parts, gaping holes and wires hung loosely from exposed conduits where equipment must have once been housed; there were no signs of gunplay or crew.

Leaving the shuttle they moved on, and when they reached the main door of the largest building Mal signalled for Zoe and Jayne to drop back and away.

Heaving the large steel handles towards him, Mal pulled at the entrance door, stepping aside quickly as the door swung back. He waited for several cautious seconds before sneaking a look around the open door. The complex's fluorescent lights were on, but the passage leading in appeared deserted.

Before going any further Mal activated his comm unit and checked in with Serenity. "Wash, how we doing?"

/\~/ Kaylee had joined Wash on the bridge and they busied themselves with keeping a close eye on the various monitors.

"Everything's clear here, Cap'n. It sure is quiet, huh," Kaylee answered.

"I know it, but you two keep sharp, dong ma?" Mal cautioned.

"Yes, Cap'n."

/\~/ Entering the compound they found no signs of a struggle. The base was typical Alliance; clean and grey. Its living quarters, mess hall, infirmary, control rooms, with the exception of the equipment and materials, all seemed in place and untouched, the constant rumble of the generators in the background the only indication of activity.

It was as if the building had simply been abandoned.

"Can't be Reavers, Cap, they'd have made more of a mess for damn sure," Jayne said, using the nose of his rifle to push open a door and peer inside.

"We got two more buildings to check, Jayne," Mal warned.

/\~/ Shepherd Book kept watch from Serenity's ramp, shotgun cocked and ready. His gaze moved around from the empty horizon on his left to the three buildings dotted in close succession in front of him and to his right.

Working on instinct Book wheeled around and took aim.

"Don't shoot!" Simon pleaded, hands raised in the air, the gun he was holding shaking in his grip. "It's just me, Shepherd."

"Sorry, son," Book apologised, lowering his weapon. "I wasn't expecting to see you out here, thought you'd want to keep an eye on your sister."

"I had to sedate her," Simon explained, his hands still shaking as he approached. "She wouldn't stop repeating herself, and it's the same thing again and again."

"'They're afraid; they think they're protecting us, but they can't face the truth,'" Book intoned gravely.

Startled, Simon took a step back.

"It was difficult *not* to hear her, son," Book reasoned. "When I woke up this morning, that's all I could hear. At first I thought she was chatting with you or Kaylee," he shook his head sadly. "Do you have any idea what she meant?"

Simon inhaled slowly. "No, I don't. River's been so agitated recently that it could mean anything."

"But she has the sight," Book stated with conviction. "She is a reader."

"I don't know, Shepherd. They did something to her, altered her perceptions, yes; but the rest, right now I have no way of knowing."

Book placed an arm around Simon's shoulder and led him to the top of the ramp. "Well, we can't worry about that now, son, but I do appreciate another set of eyes out here with me," he said. "But you might think about taking the safety off that pistol you're holding. They tend to work better that way, if there's trouble."

/\~/ In the same guarded fashion as before Mal pulled the doors of the second block back carefully and entered the building. The lights in this compound flickered at less than half strength but the interior was visible enough to see into.

Taking a few steps inside Mal stopped abruptly, looking to his left then right. Zoe came up on his shoulder and peered over.

The main passage walls and floor were smeared and stained with some kind of substance.

Mal touched a hand to the wall at his right, bringing it up to his nose to sniff and examine. Turning to Zoe they shared a brief and silent communication. Raising their weapons as one they moved further inside, Jayne following silently behind.

The further they moved inside the second complex the darker it got. Zoe pulled two glow sticks from Mal's belt, activating and handing one to him she raised the other aloft to light their way.

"You smell that?" Jayne coughed.

The unmistakable smell of rotting flesh was assaulting their nostrils. They'd reached a cross section of the interior that lead in two different directions, the walls were covered with blood, and on the floor lay the remnants of torn uniforms, discharged weapons, body parts and entrails.

"Gorram it!" Jayne spat, slipping in the gore at his feet. Recovering his balance he didn't dare meet the eyes of his two companions, instead he hefted Vera tighter against his chest. "I don't like this one damn bit," he complained.

"Let's just keep moving," Mal said quietly.

/\~/ Wash and Kaylee sat in silence, their eyes moving between the ship's monitors and their view of the compounds through the bridge's windows. Wash bit his lip nervously and balled and un-balled his fists as he fought, what was for him, the always intolerable waiting.

Kaylee was always good company but even she was growing restless at his side as they continued their routine of scanning and watching.

Unable to tolerate the silence any longer Wash reached for his comm unit. "Are you guys okay?" he demanded through the link. Scarcely waiting for a response he called again. "Zoe?"

After a few seconds, Zoe's voice came through to the bridge. "Things are looking a mite uglier down here," she responded in her usual calm tone. "But we're good. Sit tight, sweetie," she advised, cutting the link at her end before Wash could question her further.

In annoyance Wash tossed the comm unit across the console. "What the hell does 'uglier' mean?" he complained, turning to Kaylee.

"They'll be fine. The cap'n and Jayne are with Zoe, Wash. Cap'n wouldn't let anything happen to her," she reasoned, giving his arm a squeeze.

Wash sat back rubbing his temples in frustration. "It's my job to worry, I'm the husband," he said tiredly.

Kaylee smiled. "They'll be back before you know it, with stories an' all--" the proximity alert going off and the helm consol lighting up interrupted her.

Wash jumped up in his chair. "*Wei tamade gan!*" he whispered tightly, his fingers flying over the console.

Kaylee, reading the information being transmitted, turned to stare mutely at him.

"No rutting way they could be that close without us picking them up," Wash swore, his eyes glued to the controls.

"It ain't Alliance," Kaylee said fearfully.

"No, but it's bigger than Serenity."

Looking out at the view from the cockpit all they could see was the barren landscape ahead, peaked with the three stone Federal buildings.

Galvanised into action Wash turned to Kaylee. "Get down to the engine room!" he ordered. Picking up the discarded comm Wash had a channel open before the young engineer had a chance to run from the bridge.

"We've got an incoming ship, repeat, incoming. It's not Alliance. You need to get back here--now!" he yelled into the unit. Flicking a switch Wash opened up a broadcast to the rest of the ship. "Preacher, we've got incoming, a ship coming up fast from the south east."

Cutting the link as soon as he'd broadcast, Wash moved with a preternatural calm and grace, leaving his chair to move around and open up one of the lockers behind it. He reached in and grabbed a shotgun, checked the barrel for ammunition then cocked it. Placing the weapon down by his feet, he took his seat and started prepping Serenity for take off.

The ship rocked abruptly and Wash had to hold on to the nav board to keep his balance.

They'd been fired on.

"Wash, is it Reavers?" Mal came through over the comm, it sounded like he was running.

"I can't tell," Wash answered, pitching in his seat when another volley hit the ship. "They're masking their signature somehow, and we're being hit with some sort of concussion charges. They're closing in fast. I can be in the air in one minute, but you guys need to move. If they keep firing on the ship, I won't be able to get us back up."

"Get off the ground--now! You'll be harder to hit if you're moving," Mal responded.

"Mal--no!"

Zoe cut in on the link. "Wash, do it! Get up and keep flying."

"Zoe, I'm not leaving you down there!" Wash shouted, fighting to stay in his seat as yet another charge hit the ship.

"Baby, there's no time. Do it!" she ordered.

Several more charges hit the ship in quick succession, shaking Serenity violently.

"Oh God, oh God," Wash hissed desperately. "Tamade!" Hitting the ship's comm he yelled out, "Everyone hang on to something. We're in the air--now!"

Working the controls furiously Wash activated the ramp and pulled Serenity up off the ground, her thrusters kicking up tons of dirt as they fired the ship away from the surface.

"I'm coming back," he swore viciously into the comm before focusing all of his attention on flying Serenity out of orbit.

/\~/ Zoe, Mal and Jayne raced out of the small compound in time to see Serenity lifting off and banking hard to her left as she picked up speed and raced away into the sky.

Over the thunderous roar of the engines Zoe barely heard her husband's agonised promise. Watching Serenity climb higher and higher Zoe whispered meaningfully into her hand held comm. "I know it."

~~/\~/\~~