The Return Home – Part 9

Serenity had left Hera with a lot accomplished in the short time they had been there. Kaylee had repaired the ship, Jayne had had himself a little bit of fun, and Mal and Zoe had laid some of their past behind them as they had once more visited to Serenity Valley, for the last time each silently promised themselves. Mal had also finally offloaded those guns that had been a sure fire way to a hangman’s noose and he even had hopes for some profit if Badger and his cousin didn’t cheat him too much. Mal really didn’t care and that was a sign that his heart wasn’t in this business anymore.

He had led the crew into dangerous waters on Persephone and took a risk coming to Hera just to restore his and his ship’s reputation and now he was thinking of giving it all up to settle with Inara on Shadow and become a rancher again. A lot had happened in a week and he and Inara were making big plans and maybe they wouldn’t even last together. Naw, he thought, that’s foolish cause we’re both head over heels for each other. And God, she sure knew how to treat a man right in bed. Mal had never been much for tasting the wares of many women, preferring the company of one he truly cared about or none at all. Women complicated things, set your head to spinning and made you do all kinds of foolishness. He and the rest of the crew had watched Simon trip all over himself every time Kaylee was nearby and it got kinda sad at the end, poor Doc not knowing if he was coming or going he was so in love with Kaylee. Mal was glad they were together and was happier for Kaylee than he could ever find words to express to her.

Jayne’s way was the easy way, pay and leave before the bed gets too comfortable, but Mal wasn’t into truckin’ with whores either. Ha, that was a joke, too. He’d bedded Nandi and his was in love with a Companion! Of course, Nandi had been there and willing and she was just too damn fine a woman to refuse and it had been a long time since anyone had taken hold of his plow and no man in his right mind would have refused to bed her. But she’d guessed right about his feelings for Inara. And now Mal was thinking of giving up this life and settling down. Of course, if that ever came to pass, and his heart was torn between the two and nothing was decided yet, the ship would go to Zoe and she would give him a small percentage when she could. Or maybe nothing at all. He never had a very good head for business and made decisions based on his heart more than what he knew was most profitable. But none of it mattered if they couldn’t find something to use as leverage against the Alliance. Miranda was the key.

Miranda beckoned to Serenity and her crew like an answer to all their questions. What was Cutter trying to hide? What role did he play in the events on Miranda? Why had it become necessary to kill River Tam and all those who aided her? Was it really the Reaver’s home world or was the broadcast a hoax? Was Professor Stanley Drummond still alive and how could he help them? And then there was Shepherd Book, the biggest question mark of all. Why did he leave Serenity? Why did he know so much about Miranda? Who was he really? These last questions the crew thought they had some answers to, but no one really knew for sure. Somehow, someway, Book was connected to the Alliance.

After leaving Hera the crew stayed on the bridge and discussed their next move. River still had no more clues about Miranda other than the fact that it was in Cutter’s mind and it was something he would kill her and all of those associated with her for in an instant. He had already sent one assassin in the form of Maston Forbes. They had left him bleeding and in agony in a dusty street at the Eavesdown Docks on Persephone but no one knew when and where he or another, perhaps more competent, assassin would show up. And then there were the Reavers to contend with if everything in the broadcast and what Book said in his letter to Mal were true.

The crew hashed out their options for an hour before Mal made his finally decision. They would engage the Kovalev Drive and pop into space a good distance from the supposed location of Miranda, do a fast recon, take as many nav fixes, vids, and pics as they could, get the lay of the land, and get the hell out of there toward Haven or even farther if necessary. It was something all of them could agree to and it was the safe play. Keep flying, stay safe, was Mal’s motto. But he knew the last part was not going to be so easy this time so Mal decided to rest the crew for the night before making any moves.

After the crew had left the bridge to go do various things, including getting supper ready, he followed Jayne and cornered him just as Jayne got his bunk door opened.

“We need to have a word,” Mal said in his “I’m the captain” tone.

“’Bout what?” Jayne said already having a feeling where this was going.

“Book. Need to know what you know.”

“Told you what I know.”

“And I don’t buy it, Jayne. I need to know, for the safety of everyone on board.”

Jayne was puzzled. “What’s Book leaving got to do with our safety?”

“Maybe you don’t want to think on this and I sure as hell wouldn’t have come to this notion in the past, but we all got strong suspicions Book was Alliance. Maybe still is.”

Jayne was more than a little surprised. “Alliance, maybe once, but he ain’t no more and you can trust him.”

“Got a need to trust you right now. Where’s he going?”

“Mal….you don’t wanna know.”

“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t. Jayne, seems me and you had a discussion about being a member of this crew back on Ariel. You recall that?”

Jayne sighed and then looked around to make sure no one else was listening. “All that’s in the past, Mal. I finally got Kaylee to liking me again, me and River is seeing eye to eye on lots and even got some respect for the Doc now. I ain’t turning no one in so you can stop making threats.”

“None of that will matter if everyone finds out what you did on Ariel.”

“And I told you River and Doc already know so ain’t that enough?”

Mal relented. “Suppose. But Jayne, I gotta know what Book is doing.”

Jayne didn’t want to tell him but Mal was the most stubborn man in the verse when his mind was set on something and Jayne knew he’d have no peace till he told him. “Truth is…Book didn’t say where he’s going…not exactly.”

“Then exactly what did he say?”

Jayne leaned an arm on the corridor bulkhead, rubbed his beard for a second and then decided to tell him. “Said he had to do one more thing, commit some sin, worst of all, to make up for his past. Said we couldn’t be part of it, too dangerous and all.”

Mal took in the words and his mind raced through the possibilities. Suddenly an idea came and he couldn’t shake it, knowing it was true. “He’s going after Cutter.”

Jayne nodded. “That’s what I figured. He said only way any of us have any peace. Mal, you can’t tell the others. They’ll get it into their heads to go after Book. They all look on him like he’s their father or grandfather. You knows its suicide what he’s doing.”

“Yeah, suicide,” Mal said quietly, suddenly understanding more about Book than he ever knew. “No, I won’t tell them. We got enough to think on without one more worry.”

“You really think Book is still Alliance?”

Mal thought for a moment. “No, not really, or we’d all been scooped up long time ago. But I bet if anyone can get close to Cutter, he can.”

**********************************************

Closer than Serenity Book was to Cutter but far away he was still. The cruiser to Londinium left on time and Book was on board but he was minus the pistol he picked up on Ariel. After spending a few hours cleaning it and dry firing it in his hotel room, Book had to dump it as he lined up to board the cruiser. They had metal detectors, police dogs sniffing luggage, and more than a few Alliance troopers checking all passengers. A Shepherd with a gun would surely stand out, be questioned and come to someone higher ups attention and Book didn’t need any close scrutiny. He stepped out of line and went over to a toilet inside the spaceport and after a quick look around to make sure he was alone, he stepped into a toilet cubicle and stripped the gun into its various parts, dumping them into an automatic garbage receptacle that was inside. He pressed the receptacle door closed and the garbage was deposited into a larger bin he knew was far below the spaceport and then he made his way back to check in for Londinium.

It had been many years since Book had traveled in the Core and the security was almost as bad as it was at the height of the war. Cutter was taking no chances with any rebels making it to a Core planet and attacking any significant targets. Book could already get the sense that Cutter was making the assumption that the rebels were from the Rim and not inside his beloved Core worlds. But Book felt there had to be some with sympathies for a change in government on the Core worlds. Not everyone was so blind to the faults of their leaders, especially those of High Chancellor Adam Cutter and his police forces.

The government of the Alliance was a democracy and the people of voting age on the various planets and moons elected representatives who were sent to the main Parliament on Londinium. There were twenty some main political parties but two or three always seemed to dominate the government. The leader of the party with the most seats became the prime minister. It was for a term of five years unless a vote of no confidence from three quarters of the representatives was passed and then new elections would be held.

As Book relaxed in his cabin on the cruiser to Londinium he went over all the details he knew about the government and about Adam Cutter. At first he was supposed to share with three other passengers but when he retrieved his extra money the previous night he made a quick call to the ticketing office and they upgraded him to a private cabin. He needed this time alone from prying eyes and questioning glances. He knew a lot already but needed to know everything about Cutter and the government. Book turned on the Cortex screen in his cabin and punched in Cutter’s name.

Information on Cutter was the standard government biography that had been there for almost twenty years since he became High Chancellor. Cutter was appointed not elected, and no Prime Minister ever had the guts to dismiss him. Book searched his mind for an analogy and then remembered a story from Earth’s history, about the United States and its Federal Bureau of Investigation. One man, J. Edgar Hoover, had presided over the FBI for almost fifty years. Hoover had secret files on everyone, including the American presidents, and none had the nerve to fire him, even after he became an anachronism from another time.

There was nothing about Cutter’s private life, just where he was born, his family, his education, his record as a policeman, and that was it. No one knew where he lived and it was suspected by some he never left his office, like a vampire from old ghost stories who stayed up all night, manipulating the fates of millions. Book knew that was nonsense, he was a man, and he needed food and rest like all people. But Book suspected that Cutter had more than one house or apartment, or even lodged at the Ministry of the Interior. No, he couldn’t get him at home. There was only one place he could kill Cutter and that was in his office, on the highest floor of the most secure building in all the galaxy. The trick was, knowing when he would be there. Book didn’t care about the security, knew he could easily fool it or overcome it. But to go through that and have Cutter not be there? He’d have to do some recon first.

Then Book had one more thought. The Prime Minister. Could he trust her? Was she in Cutter’s grip like so many in the past? Perhaps there was another way to stop Cutter. Book punched keys into the Cortex screen and began to read as much as could about the current Prime Minster.

*************************************************

Right now far away on Londinium it was morning and Adam Cutter was sitting before his so called superiors. Once a month he had to make a report to a security oversight committee consisting of senior statesmen and women, including the Prime Minister herself. Susan Blakely was in her late 40s, from Osiris, married and with three grown up children. She was tall and slim, with a golden bob of blond hair that was showing signs of grey. Prime Minister Blakely was considered handsome if not beautiful, but her political skills were what made her stand out from the crowd. First elected to Parliament straight out of university, she had trained to be a lawyer and took all this skill with her when she came to Londinium the first time. Cutter had noticed her then and knew she bore scrutiny for the future. Gradually she moved up the ranks and just three years ago became the leader of her party and then the Prime Minister.

For all his prying Cutter had found very little to use against her. One of her sons had been caught with an illegal substance, but she laughed this off as an indiscretion of youth and the press had barely covered it. Nothing on her husband, a lawyer also. He had also fought with distinction during the war, leaving his wife with the children behind because he had to do his duty. No affairs from either of them, no illegal sources of income, no suggestions of anything improper at all. Cutter finally came to the conclusion they were just like him, committed patriots to their way of life. Of course, he was willing to do what was necessary to preserve it. Now he wondered if she was. The grey in her hair had only been noticeable since the renewed rebellions began ten months earlier.

“High Chancellor Cutter,” the Prime Minister said from her central chair, flanked by five men and women on either side. They had already been at it for more than two hours and most were flagging, ready to call an end to the session. “There is a matter of some funding that your department requested for ‘special equipment” several months ago. The total was more than five million credits. Could you explain what this special equipment is?”

“Of course, Madam Prime Minister,” Cutter said and was ready, knew this question was coming. “The special equipment is a humane method of questioning prisoners. I felt it was necessary to find the best way to extract necessary information from prisoners in a timely, but almost totally harmless way. The funds were used to set up a Sensory Deprivation facility.”

And then Cutter explained what it was and how it worked. Suddenly everyone was awake and Cutter knew in the back of their minds that none wished to ever see the inside of his “special equipment” room.

The Prime Minister was giving him one of her stern looks. Cutter knew that she, of all the people in this room, in this government, maybe even in the galaxy, was not intimidated by him. “Humane method? Is this so? Breaking a person’s sanity is humane?”

“Yes, Madam,” Cutter began and of course he had an answer to this one, too. “The prisoners suffer no physical trauma, they are not subject to pain, and after a short time, they are themselves again. Long term studies have shown that the subjects have no serious side effects of the procedure.”

“Very well,” said the Prime Minister. “I would like a copy of your report sent to my office by the end of the week. Now, High Chancellor, what news from the Rim?”

Cutter shifted some documents in his hands. “There have been thirty-five separate attacks on Alliance personnel and facilities in the last two weeks. This has resulted in considerable property damage and the deaths of fourteen people. Considering the scope of our enterprises in the galaxy I think this is an insignificant matter that will soon die out.”

“Yes, insignificant, but not to those fourteen people or their families, Chancellor Cutter. You have been authorized to train five thousand extra police forces for internal Core security. The provisions have already been made in your department’s budget. As the new recruits are ready, you will deploy experienced forces to the Rim worlds. It’s time we show these brigands and rebels that the Alliance is the only government in this galaxy.”

Cutter almost grinned. Sometimes he did like her, just a bit. “Yes, madam, I will start the recruiting process immediately.”

The Prime Minister took a document from one of the people next to her, looked at it then to Cutter. “Finally, what news about this broadcast about Miranda?”

“Nothing new, I’m afraid,” Cutter started. “We have been unable to identify the source of the transmission nor the person speaking on it. Again, I must strongly state that this is a hoax whose sole purpose is to undermine your administration, Madam Prime Minister.”

“A hoax that many people are questioning, Chancellor Cutter,” she said pointedly.

“Our surveys and sampling of Cortex waves and press reports indicate a growing lack of interest in the broadcast and in any rebellion,” Cutter replied, knowing that such statistics could be manipulated to show whatever he wanted. Most of the people sitting by the Prime Minister seemed to brighten at this news. They were all enjoying a soft life here in the capital, had their paid for houses and aircars and their perks, like reserved seats at the best restaurants, tickets to the opera or ballet or soccer matches. He had dirt on all of them and they were as usual very quiet during these meetings unless he had asked them before hand to make a point on his behalf. All they wanted was for him to tell them the verse was safe so they could go on with their pathetic little lives, living off the hard work of the citizens of the Alliance.

“Yes, Chancellor, that’s all well and good,” Prime Minister Blakely said. “But almost every day someone questions me on this matter. I’m running out of answers.”

Cutter waited for it and then it happened as he had planned. One little man nearby Blakely spoke up. “The official answer is that the broadcast is a hoax and the rebellion is nothing more than criminal elements at work.”

Cutter smiled. He’d have to remember to overlook this man’s predilection for sleeping with teenage boys. “Yes, Senator, that is our official policy and I recommend that we stick with it.”

Blakely looked around the table and everyone was nodding and vocally agreeing. Finally she just smiled at the rest of the committee members. “Then for now that is our continuing policy. Thank you ladies and gentlemen, that is all for today.”

With some relief they began to gather their papers and laptops computers and one by one made their goodbyes and left. Cutter remained seated as did the Prime Minister. As usual, she wanted a private chat with him after the session. Cutter knew that these meetings were recorded but he also knew the operator of the recording equipment and he always shut down the machines before Cutter and the Prime Minister had their private chats.

“So, what’s the real truth?” she began suddenly and for once she knew she had managed to surprise this icy cold man.

“Concerning what?” Cutter said after he recovered the brief surprise he knew he let show on his face.

“Chancellor Cutter, I am not as old as you or many others, but I remember Miranda. I had friends who went out there to help colonize the place. I still have some of their letters, with Miranda as the address. It did exist, it does exist. I have refrained from discussing this with you hoping that you would take care of this matter or that it would just all fritter away into nothing. But the broadcast is still being discussed, still being examined, despite your reports to the contrary. You were High Chancellor in those years. What happened there?”

Once again Cutter was ready, a story prepared long in advance. “We’re not sure. It might have been the opening salvo in the war. Just before the Independents declared themselves in rebellion, we believe they used chemical weapons on Miranda. It is uninhabitable now, no one can land there, so we have no idea what exactly happened.”

She paused and looked at him steadily. “What happened to the people on Miranda? Are they all dead or are they the…Reavers?”

“No one knows for sure. Most died we believe. We sent a recon team…they never made it back. Long range observations showed many spaceships around the planet. The first Reaver attacks happened soon after.”

Now he could see she was getting mad, steaming mad. “And why weren’t those responsible ever brought to justice?”

“No one knew who did it. The Independents kept spotty records and something so dramatic and dastardly was surely kept secret. Maybe even their leaders did not know it was done. Perhaps a secret military group, attempting to find a way to win the war before it started. We don’t know.”

“Cutter, send a team. Find this man, this person who made the broadcast. He claims the Alliance did it. If he lived on Miranda, he knows what happened there. We need to know the truth.”

“The truth? And what will happen if we find out the truth? What will we do then? What if it was us that destroyed Miranda, what if some mad general did it, not the Independents? What do you think will happen to your government?”

Now it was her turn to be surprised. “My government was not responsible.”

Cutter smiled his evil leer. “Do you think they care? We are the Alliance, we represent the government, all sins, past and present. Madam, this information must not leave this room. The existence of Miranda and the Reavers must continue to be denied, no matter who is responsible.”

She summoned up her courage and willpower and looked him straight in the eye. “I don’t know who is responsible and it doesn’t matter. It’s time we took care of the sins of the past and present. I am giving you an executive order, a Protocol One order. You will prepare an expedition for Miranda, it will investigate this matter, and you will make a full report to me and only me of its findings. If it finds Reavers, they will attempt to capture some and analyze them, discover what caused their state, and attempt to find a cure.”

“A cure? For Reavers? This is madness.”

“Chancellor Cutter, you will follow my orders or I will find someone that will.”

A long silence followed, a battle of wills, but Cutter knew he had no choice and in the back of his mind he wondered not for the first time if the political maneuvering to put this woman in the Prime Minister’s chair had been to hamper his power more than anything else.

“Yes, Madam Prime Minister. I will prepare an expedition for Miranda. Who do you suggest shall lead it?”

“You,” she said and Cutter almost expected it. He merely nodded, rose from his chair and left without even saying goodbye.

***********************************************

“Coming out of light speed….now!” shouted Wash and Serenity popped into space about halfway between Haven and where they believed Miranda was. The ship immediately went to fifty percent power and after a few minutes Wash had a nav fix.

“There it is,” he said and Zoe and Mal undid the straps on their chairs and came over and looked at his screens.

“Miranda,” said Zoe as she could see a distant blue whitish blob on the vid scanners. But something wasn’t quite right. “Full magnification dear.”

“Already is,” Wash said. He had noticed it too and so did Mal. Black dots, almost in a continuous line, floating across the reflected light from Miranda.

“Reavers,” Mal said finally or at least their ships. Book was telling the truth. “Okay Wash, get all the fixes we can and vids and pics. Next time we’re gonna pop right into the upper atmo.”

“Might need to get a little nearer, Mal,” Wash said. “Jumping into atmo…kinda risky, like to be as sure as I can.”

“Take us in,” Mal ordered. “Slowly, don’t want to attract any unwanted attention.”

Mal took the intercom mic as Wash slowly powered down the engines and Zoe got to work with the sensor scans. “This is the captain. We have arrived in the Burnham quadrant. Miranda is far away and has lots of company. We’re moving in for a closer look. Everyone stay strapped in. Could be we have to run mighty fast.”

*************************************************

The rest of the crew was strapped in the dining lounge chairs. Jayne cast a worried eye toward the bridge.

“He best not get too close if them Reaver ships is out there,” he said with a trace of fear.

Kaylee was also showing signs of fear despite Simon holding her hand. She looked at her lovely doctor and said something she thought she’d never say. “Simon, they…take me….you gotta…you gotta do something…for me.”

She couldn’t say it but Simon knew what she wanted and was aghast. “I certainly will not!”

“Don’t worry none, Kaylee,” Jayne said with a look of disgust at Simon. “He ain’t got the stomach for it but I do it comes to that. But you all promise do the same for me.”

“This is madness,” said Simon looking from his bride to be to Jayne like the whole verse had suddenly gone crazy.

“No, its not,’ said Inara quietly. “The things they would do before you died….you would want to be dead.”

“Sometimes they don’t kill you,” said River and they were all thinking of the survivor from the derelict ship they encountered soon after Simon and River had come on board.

“Hell, I’d rather be dead than be a Reaver,” Jayne growled and then looked back toward the bridge. “Can’t stand this sitting, what the hell’s going on?”

“Nothing,’ said River. “We are just moving slowly toward Miranda. Wash needs a proper navigation fix.”

They were silent for a few moments. Simon looked at Kaylee and knew Jayne was right. He wouldn’t have the stomach to kill her if it came to it.

“I couldn’t…not ever,” he said to her in almost a whisper and gave her hand a little squeeze. “I’d never stop fighting.”

“Even if it meant we both died?” she asked and he nodded.

“Couldn’t live without you,” Simon said and Kaylee felt her heart swell with her love for him.

“Me neither,” she said.

“Now ain’t that noble of you, Doc,” Jayne growled. “But listen fast and good. Killing anyone who is set to be taken by Reavers is doing ‘em a favor.”

“What about fighting them?” River asked and knew she hit Jayne in his pride with that comment.

“That’s…suicide!’ the big man replied.

Simon just shook his head. “So our choices are being torture, raped, and eaten by the Reavers, becoming a Reaver, killing the ones we love to stop them from falling into Reaver hands, or fighting them? I’ll take fighting them myself.”

“Can’t win, Doc,’ Jayne said. “They’s all savage, madmen, don’t give up, don’t feel fear. Heard of a town got stomped by Reaver ships. They tried to fight, but Reavers kept coming and coming. They musta killed fifty or more Reavers but all the townsfolk got taken in the end. They got a notion to kill they don’t stop. Best thing to do with Reavers is run or hide.”

“But when you run, they chase you,” River said and then she turned her eyes to the bridge. “Time to go.”

Just as Simon was about to ask what she was talking about Mal’s voice boomed through the intercom,” Hang on! We got company!” And then they felt the ship accelerating, faster and faster, and they all had the queasy feeling that Reavers were chasing them.

***********************************************

“Bet you can’t do that,” said Wash to the ship that had followed them as Serenity zipped past Haven in a few ticks and the ship slowed to fifty percent power.

“No sign of anyone following,” Zoe said as she looked at sensor boards and let out a sigh of relief and grinned broadly.

“Course not,” said Mal confidently. “We got the fastest ship in the verse. No way no Reaver scow gonna catch us now.”

They had been crawling on twenty-five percent power toward Miranda, gathering as much as info as they could, when a ship came out of nowhere, off their port bow about five thousand kilometers away, which was too close in space terms. As soon as Zoe spotted it on the edge of the sensor board Wash turned the ship about and quickly plugged in a predetermine nav fix just on the far side of Haven and engaged the Kovalev Drive. He didn’t get it all the way to light speed cause it wasn’t necessary. The Reaver ship, if that was what it was, and they had no reason to think otherwise, followed for a short time and then Wash lost it as they zoomed away.

The next hours were spent getting the ship ready for the real test, dropping behind the Reaver fleet on the far side of Miranda and hoping to do so without being detected and hoping there weren’t more ships on that side. Wash went over the nav fixes again and again, finally deciding that an approach from the southern quadrant was best, to get below and past where they thought the Reaver ships were. Kaylee fretted over the engine, adjusting this, tweaking that, while Mal, Jayne and Zoe checked and double checked all weapons and made sure they had a nice supply of grenades on hand. Simon went to the infirmary and prepared a field medical kit, knowing once on Miranda they might be in situations where there would be no chance or time to come back on board ship. He packed heavy bandages, morphine, adrenaline kits, his surgical kit, several units of plasma, blood congealers, and an assortment of other things he knew he might need and would regret later if he left them behind. Inara and River busied themselves in the kitchen preparing a big lunch and making some sandwiches and a thermos full of coffee for the crew. No one knew what would happen on Miranda and when or if they would have a chance to eat again. Mal, more cautious now than he’d been in the past, wasn’t taking any chances. They find this Drummond, get him out, and get far away.

By early afternoon there was nothing left to do. Lunch was finished, the dishes washed and packed away and all the preparations were complete. Everyone strapped themselves in and Mal looked at Wash.

“Punch it.”

Wash fired up the Kovalev Drive and within seconds they were zooming past Haven again and then with a pop, a creak, and a groan Serenity approached light speed and almost in the blink of an eye appeared on the far side of Miranda, near its southern pole and the laptop automatically powered them down to fifty percent power. The ship skimmed along the upper atmo, making for a bumpy ride and then Wash just nudged her over and soon they were headed for the surface of the planet.

Mal looked over at Wash and flashed a big grin. “Nice work.”

“More bragging rights for me, if I could ever tell anyone” Wash said and looked to his wife in the third seat behind Mal. “What do we have, babe?”

Zoe’s eyes flashed over the sensors in front of her as Mal did the same from the co-pilot’s seat. “No ships, no activity, no electrical presence, nothing,” Zoe said. “And best of all, no Reavers.”

“Seems like they stay on the side between Haven and Miranda,” Wash said, hoping it was true but knowing it might not be.

“Let’s do a sweep,” Mal told Wash just as they broke through cloud cover and could see the blue green world of Miranda before their very eyes as they moved toward the northern area. That’s where Book had said the images on the broadcast were from.

Mal told the crew to come to the bridge and all looked and waited as Wash did slow fly bys of major cities, with pristine buildings, shimmering lakes, tree covered hills and valleys, over oceans, past farms, more towns, and then more cities. In the next hour they flew on and they saw nothing living, nothing at all, not a human or animal. Most disconcerting was the lack of an electrical presence to indicate where Drummond might be.

“Nothing,” said Mal. “No sign of life anywhere.”

“Maybe on the other side,” Jayne suggested

“Could be,” Zoe said and without waiting for an order Wash starting flying them in a mid atmo sweep across Miranda to the side they hadn’t seen yet. Wash kept the power low, not wanting to burn too much VTOL fuel, knowing a supply might not be so readily available.

“Kinda reminds me of Earth,” said Kaylee after they passed over one more dead town.

“The only difference is the cities, they’re intact,” Inara said and that got Mal to thinking.

"Chemicals might still be in atmo out there," he stated, looking toward Simon for confirmation.

Simon shook his head. 'Not after, what is it? Perhaps fifteen years. No, not in the air, but perhaps in the water and plants."

Before Mal could reply Wash grabbed his attention.

“Wait, got something,” said Wash and then they all looked out the windows.

Far ahead was another city, the biggest of all, and this had to be the capital Book was talking about. Wash was picking up some electrical activity and steered Serenity toward the source. They flew over the city, the largest and grandest of them all and then they all saw it and a shudder passed through the crew.

On the outskirts of the city on its western side, was a large rectangle shaped building, brownish in color, three stories high, with the middle opened to the sky, like a courtyard, big enough for Serenity to land in. The walls had what looked like fencing on top, perhaps barbed wire and Jayne got a feeling he knew what this place was.

“Looks like a prison,” he said and everyone looked to him. “What? I seen one once. From the outside.”

“Prison or not,” said Wash. “That’s the source of the electrical activity.”

On the ground around it they could clearly see smashed ships, and scattered dead bodies everywhere. In one place was an array of antennas and at least one satellite dish but they could clearly see they were damaged. The four corners of the building had strange tower like structures and then Mal could clearly see what the others didn’t yet.

“Missile batteries,” he said and then Zoe caught it, too.

“Yup, anti-air by the looks of things,” and then she looked at Mal and both had the same thought at the same time.

“Wash, get us the hell out of here! Now!” Mal yelled and everyone grabbed onto something as Wash immediately pulled Serenity around and the ship clawed its way skyward. Then came the ominous beeping sound that meant a missile had them locked and was chasing them.

“We’re locked!” said Wash and then Mal flipped switches and got on the broad wave comms link.

“This is Firefly class transport Ser…Constellation. We have peaceful intentions, we are not Reavers and would you kindly stop firing on us!”

After a few seconds came the small gravelly rasping voice they had heard on the broadcast. “What the hell you doing here?”

“We heard your broadcast, Professor Drummond!” Mal shouted with hope as he recognized the voice. Just then the ship did a tight turn.

Wash looked to Kaylee. “Time for the flare gun again.” And without a word Simon and Kaylee ran off the bridge and Jayne decided to follow cause doing nothing and dying was whole lot worse than at least doing something to try and survive.

“So you heard my broadcast and you’ve guessed or were told who I am. How do I know you don’t represent the Alliance and have come here to kill or imprison me?”

“My name is Malcolm Reynolds, I was a Browncoat in the war and I hate the Alliance as much as you and the next fella. Please, do something about that missile!!”

“Reynolds, that Firefly has no guns, correct?”

“Right! We’re a transport! We’re here on a rescue mission!”

“To rescue who?”

“You, Professor, to get out your message, to tell the verse the truth about Miranda and the Reavers. To stop Adam Cutter and make him pay for what happened here.”

After a long pause came the reply. “It’s about time.”

Just as Kaylee was about to open the door to shuttle two to fire her flare gun again, the missile flew off in another direction and self-destructed with a crack and a bang that reverberated through the hull of the ship.

“Thank you Professor Drummond,” Mal spoke into the comms.

“Your thanks are unnecessary. Constellation, please set down in the courtyard. Oh, and be careful, there are still some bodies there from the last attack.”

Mal and Zoe exchanged glances. “Last attack?” Zoe asked with a puzzled expression.

“Looks like he’s had his own private war,” Wash said and then as Serenity flew closer they could see that the bodies were all Reavers and the downed ships had surely been knocked out by the AA defenses.

“He’s been under siege,” Mal said in awe as he tried to count bodies but stopped after fifty some.

“All alone?” Inara asked. “He can’t be alone here, Mal. Not to survive this.”

“He’s not alone,” said River.

“What’s the story little River?” Mal asked in a kind way that was tempered by his need to know as much as she did.

“There are others, don’t know how many, survivors like him.”

Wash moved Serenity into a hover over the central courtyard and gently the ship settled to the concrete surface of the place, making it a tight fit, but with room to spare.

Five minutes later Jayne, Mal and Zoe stood armed and ready by the cargo bay ramp. The rest of the crew was at their stations, Inara and River on the bridge with Wash.

Mal opened the doors and the ramp came down and they were greeted by a single person, a man. He was elderly, in his sixties or seventies Mal guessed, had a shock of white hair and wore black rimmed spectacles. He was dressed in a grey sweater and grey pants and both looked like they need a washing and some minor repairs. But what they noticed most of all was the big fat cigar sticking out of his mouth. I think I’m gonna like this guy Jayne thought to himself as the man walked up the ramp.

“Welcome, welcome,” said the man in a gravelly, rasping voice after he removed the cigar from between his teeth. “As you already know, I am Professor Stanley Drummond. Welcome to Miranda.”

********************************************

Cutter paced in his office, thinking on what had to be done next. It had been a long day for him and his staff. After his meeting with Prime Minister Blakely, he had spent an hour trying to think of a way to avoid the Prime Minister’s orders but the law was clear in this matter. A Protocol One executive order could not be ignored and even Cutter could face dismissal in such a case. The Prime Minister had the power to appoint certain positions and his was one of them. Oh, Cutter could mount a counterattack, could summon all his stooges and informants and break open his secret files that had every secret of every Parliament member. They could bring in a vote of no confidence against Blakely, the reasons being the renewed rebellion. But that wouldn’t wash with the public and their fears about this insignificant rebellion would grow to alarming proportions.

The more Cutter thought on things he realized Blakely might have done him a favor. It had been years since he went into the field, did the dirty work he now had Operatives and men like Forbes do. He could deal with this River Tam problem himself directly and end the controversy over Miranda and this broadcast once and for all. If this man was there, still alive, if it wasn’t a hoax, then they would squash him and any Reavers or others like bugs.

After he made his decision he immediately began drafting the orders. First he contacted Forbes, who was still on Persephone nursing his wounds and pride and told him to take his two gunships to Haven at once, to Coppermine, the largest town on the planet. He also told Forbes that if he encountered Serenity he was under no circumstances to damage that ship. Forbes was puzzled, and asked if River Tam and her companions were still targets. They were, with the exception of Kaylee Frye. The ship must remain intact and she must not be harmed in anyway. He could sense the curiosity in Forbes and told him to follow his orders. Next he contacted several Operatives in the area and told them to also converge on Haven. After that it was just a matter of gathering Alliance personnel here on Londinium to join him and gather the necessary supplies for the expedition. Once his assistant had these orders, Cutter drafted new orders for the coming days for his deputies in all quadrants to carry out.

Finally, he reviewed all reports from the galaxy and again there was no sign of Serenity. They were already at Miranda he was sure of it or close by, maybe even at Haven. Time to check on his prisoner to let him know what was expected of him in the future.

Jonathan Frye was sitting in a chair at a small table in his prison cell, finishing the remains of his dinner. He was wearing blue green prison issue jumpsuit with his name and ID number on the left breast pocket. Cutter stood outside the cell, a force field barrier separating him from the prisoner. After a moment Jonathan noticed him and threw his plastic spoon down on the food tray in disgust.

“What do you want you son of a bitch? Ain’t I told you enough?”

“Ah, so you remember?”

“Seeing as my wife been dead for seven years I’m guessing it was you or one of your lackeys I was jawing with, so yeah, something like that sticks in your mind no matter how I was in that gorramn tank.”

“Correct. You were talking with me. But let me ask you one thing, Mr. Frye. Have you considered why you are not dead yet? After all, we have the information we need.”

“Cause you need me. I know all about that special engine on Kaylee’s ship. And I’m guessing you want it.”

“Very perceptive. And you and your daughter will help our engineers uncover its mysteries.”

“Hell, I don’t know its mysteries; I just know how it works. Some guy on Earth got all the theory figured out. Maybe you want to go back there and ask him yourself. Course you’d lose four years coming and going. And Kaylee said he was kinda old, might even be dead now.”

“Einstein’s theory of light speed travel. Not a theory anymore, your daughter and her companions are proof of that.”

“You harm her or Simon or any of them….you’ll never have moments peace, here or in the hereafter.”

“Mr. Frye, I don’t believe in the hereafter. What your daughter knows is a matter of galaxy wide security. She will be found and picked up eventually. And then you will help us or you both will die.”

“Son of a bitch.”

“I’ve been called worse, but not to my face in such a long time.”

“I ain’t got much to lose, now do I?”

“The accommodations, they are to your liking?”

“Guess so. Chow’s not the best but better than I expected.”

“That could all change in an instant. We have cells where the lights are never turned on, the food is a slice of bread and a cup of water, and the mice and the insects will fight you to the death for just a nibble.”

Jonathan said nothing and Cutter knew he got the point.

“Work with me Mr. Frye and someday you and Kaylee will be hailed as the heroes who made the first faster than light speed drive. Be stubborn and I can assure you, you will find the hereafter, but it will be a hell in Londinium’s prison cells. For both of you.”

With that Cutter turned and exited the cellblock, leaving Jonathan with much to think on. Mostly, he wondered where his lovely Kaylee was and he said a prayer to his God that he hoped she was safe and happy.

*********************************************

Kaylee was safe, for the moment, but Serenity had dropped into a danger zone almost as bad as what had happened on Earth and its moon. As Drummond came up the ramp to greet them Mal and Zoe and Jayne couldn’t help but notice the dead Reavers in the courtyard.

“Welcome, welcome to Miranda.”

“Howdy,” Mal said as they shook hands. “I’m Captain Malcolm Reynolds, this is my first mate Zoe Washburne and the big fella is Jayne Cobb.”

“How nice to meet you. Please forgive my appearance and the appearance of my home. We haven’t had time to do a proper clean up. Come, come, and I will explain all.”

Drummond turned and started to walk off the ship but Mal stopped him.

“Professor, we came to get you out of here. Seems best if you and any folks with you just grab what you need and we skedaddle before the Reavers come back.”

“Oh, not to worry, they won’t be back for a while. And besides,” Drummond said. “I’m not leaving.”

That took all three by surprise. “And why the hell not?’ said Jayne as they stepped off the ramp into the sunlight. There was a chill in the air and Mal guessed fall was approaching Miranda’s northern hemisphere.

“My research is here and my work is not finished,” Drummond said as he stepped around a dead Reaver and was heading toward one of the four building that joined together to make the square.

“What research?” Mal asked and the answer was enough to stop them cold.

“A cure, of course” Drummond said. “I’m searching for a cure for the illness that has created the Reavers.”

********************************************

Book exited the ship after the almost two day run from Ariel to Londinium. He had spent most of the time on board, reading about the government, especially about the prime Minister. He felt she was one of the good guys, not a corrupt stooge like many in the past decade or so. Book knew it was time to come out of hiding.

He entered a hotel attached to the spaceport, managed to get a room for an exorbitant price, and then changed into casual style clothing, without his priest’s garb, and then got an air taxi directly from the hotel to the Parliament building. It had been almost eleven years since Book had been on Londinium, well, fifteen years in counted time, and much had changed. There were new buildings, new car styles, both land and air, new clothing styles, new everything.

But the Parliament building was the same as always, a large granite and marble structure with a tall central tower and two wings extending from the sides. In front was an expanse of greenery where two monuments stood. The first on the left was to the Travelers, a sculpture of a spaceship from the past, which first came to Londinium five hundred odd years ago. The second monument was to the fallen soldiers from the war against the Independents. It was a thirty foot obelisk with a sculpture of an Alliance soldier on top and on it were inscribed the names of all the battles from the war and their dates. Book hadn’t seen that monument, hadn’t returned to Londinium after the war ended. Now he looked at it and there at the very bottom were two words, “Serenity Valley”, that meant more to people he cared about that any other two words could.

Book looked at the massive clock at the top of the central tower and waited until it chimed noon. Shortly after he saw that a tour of the Parliament buildings was about to begin and he quickly bought a ticket from a nearby kiosk and joined the group of young and old people, many of them with the look of tourists, with vid captures in hands and with an odd assortment of casual clothing. As they turned one corridor Book slipped away from the group and headed up the stairs where he knew the Prime Minister’s office was.

Down a quiet corridor Book walked and ahead of him were two security personnel outside Susan Blakely’s office.

“Stop, sir, this is an unauthorized area,” one of the guards said sternly.

Book acted surprised. “Oh, well, I’m sorry but I was with a tour and seemed to have gotten lost.”

The guard sighed, then approached Book to give directions. This old man was lost and now I have to spend time showing him where he is and HEY! That’s my gun!

Before he could even say a word Book had taken the guard’s pistol and had it to his head and then looked at his partner who pulled out his pistol and had it trained directly at Book.

“Hand over your pistol or he dies!” Book said in a menacing tone.

The guard shook his head. “We are willing to die to protect the Prime Minister. Now you drop your gun!”

“What in the verse is going on out here?” said Blakely as she stood in her doorway and then she saw Book and she paled a bit.

“Madam Prime Minster, return to your office and call for backup!” the second guard shouted.

“Wait!” Book said. “I am not here to kill you Madam Prime Minister. I’m here to protect you.”

“Protect me! You have a gun at my bodyguard’s head and you claim you are here to protect me? From who?”

“Adam Cutter.”

There was a dead silence as the name floated in the hallway. Blakely spoke first. “Who are you?”

“My ID is in my front shirt pocket,” he said and without any fear Blakely walked up to him and took the ID card.

“Now release my men or shoot me but I will not talk with you in these circumstances.”

Book relented and handed the pistol back to a very pissed off guard. The two guards immediately searched him and found nothing but a wad of cash.

“Bring him along,” she said and they pushed Book into her office.

Fortunately Blakely’s secretary was at lunch so they had some privacy and Book had hoped by coming at the noon hour this would be so.

Blakely’s office was rich in wood paneling and plants, a very homey setting, with pictures of her husband and children on the walls, a few with her and the leaders of different political parties, movie stars, sports heroes, and powerful business leaders. Book got a little jolt when he saw one picture with the name “Gabriel Tam” at the bottom. There he was, Simon and River’s father, and then the pieces fell into place. She was from Osiris and so were they. Tam was one of several men in suits with the Prime Minister. It must have been some ceremony or something, an official photo, not a private one, because if Tam had friends this powerful he would have taken care of his children’s difficulties a long time ago.

Blakely sat behind her desk and accessed a Cortex screen. She plugged in Book’s ID code and then a look of curiosity crossed her face.

“So you are a….”

But Book quickly interrupted her. “Enter your top security code.”

She gave him a stern look. “How do you know about my codes?”

“Madam, enter your code and my ID information will become crystal clear.”

She held his gaze for a second and then punched in her top security code. On the Cortex screen, suddenly Book’s ID information began to change and then she knew who he really was. She looked at the guards after a moment and told them to leave.

“Madam, leave?” one said in puzzlement.

“Yes, and do not report this to anyone. You have not seen this man and he has never been here. Are we clear?”

The two looked at each other. “Clear,” they said together and then left.

“Please sit down,” she said and Book sat opposite her.

“Sorry for the way I approached but I could not chance anyone accessing the full details of my ID and you would not have given me an audience in normal circumstances.”

“This is indeed a surprise. And what name do you go by now?”

“Book. I am a Shepherd of the Southdown Abbey on Persephone.”

“An interesting choice of covers.”

“Actually, this is not a cover. You see, Madam, I have been out of the game for almost eleven years. I really am a Shepherd.”

She was extremely wary now. “Then why come back into our service? Why now?”

Book sighed. This was going to be the hard part to explain. “Because Cutter is planning to kill people I am close to. And he is responsible for Miranda and the Reavers.”

It took a long hour to explain it all and she still had many questions but Book felt she was now starting to believe him.

“The Tams, from Osiris. I think I met their father once at a fundraiser on Osiris. And this Athenian Island facility, it is still in operation?”

“We don’t know. I’ve told you as much as I know.”

“But Cutter must surely know who you are?”

“We have met, once, on Miranda all those years ago. But he doesn’t know what I am now. Doesn’t know who I serve.”

“And you have served other Prime Ministers?”

“During the war, yes. And my actions during that time made me seek out forgiveness by becoming a Shepherd.”

“I see. Well, Book, this has been a surprising conversation. So, what now?”

“The truth must be known. Cutter must be punished for his crimes.”

“Then you must join his expedition to Miranda.”

Now it was Book’s turn to be shocked. “An expedition to Miranda? For what purpose?”

“To find out the truth. I now have a feeling Cutter will never let the truth be known, will destroy whatever and whoever he finds on Miranda. You will go along, as a Shepherd, as a religious element, and you will be my representative and report all that happens.”

“Yes, Madam Prime Minister. I’m glad to be back in service again.”

“You know Book, when I first took this job I wasn’t told about you.”

“The practice seems to have lapsed since the war.”

“Yet all your information is still there, available only to my eyes.”

Book felt she was a little suspicious. “Madam, I can only ask you to trust me.”

“I certainly can’t trust Adam Cutter,” she said after a moment and then seemed to make up her mind. She rose from behind her desk and Book stood.

“I'll make all the necessary arrangements for you to join the expedition. I'm sure you know how to report to me in a way no one else can discover."

"Yes, Madam Prime Minister."

"Good," she said and then she took his hand and shook it, quite firmly he noticed. "I'm quite happy to have made your acquaintance. Not everyone in the verse can say they have their own private Operative.”