Chapter 14

"Captain, we need you on the bridge," Zoe's voice sounded though the ship wide com.

"On my why, what's the problem?" Mal called into an outdated handset as sprinted up the cargo bay stairs towards the crew quarters and bridge.

"Got two unidentified and armed freighters rapidly closing on our six. Think they may be pirate boats."

"Why can't things never-" Mal began and interrupted himself as he entered the bridge. He continued thoughtfully, "Well, maybe this is a good sign Zo, get our bad luck out of the way before we start a job for a change. Albatross, can we outrun them?"

"Out of the fire and into the frying pan," River responded.

"Um… is that a yes?" Mal asked.

"Captain we are being hailed… twice…" Zoe said uncertainly from the communications console.

"Shenme?" Mal asked.

"The pirates behind us are ordering us to shut down our engines. A luxury liner in front of us is asking if we need assistance," Zoe explained.

"Can we make it to that big fancy boat in time?" Mal asked River.

"I'm going to need Kaylee in the engine room," River said calmly.

"Kaylee I need you in the engine room gettin' us ready to go full burn right now!" Mal's voice sounded through the infirmary intercom.

Kaylee sighed as she pulled out of Simon's embrace. "Couldn't just let us have our moment could they?" she pouted and threatend, "an' if this ain't no fer no better reason than to test our new parts, someone's climate control's gonna be on the fritz."

"Here, let me help you," Simon offered as he followed her out of the infirmary.

"You're a sweetie, but you should stay in here," Kaylee said as she pointed to his sling, "You have to get better."

Simon shrugged the sling off and said, "The sling is not necessary, I can use my arm," as he moved it around to demonstrate.

"Simon I don't have time to argue, just stay out of the way. Don't want you gettin' hurt none," Kaylee said, offering a truce and allowing him to tag along.

They reached the engine room and Kaylee immediately went to work. Simon loved to watch her work on Serenity, she truly did have a gift for working with machines. Her hands shifted from component to component like a concert pianist as she moved with around the engine with an almost athletic grace. The way she would arch her back and make use of her entire body to generate enough torque to move a particularly stubborn piece of machinery sent a rush of energy straight to his groin.

The entire ship shudder violently and without warning. Simon's leg throbbed as he was thrown into the bulkhead and he was dimly aware of the hull breach alarm and some hissing sound before Kaylee's voice brought his mind back into focus.

"Simon! The Door!" she shouted.

Simon ran to the engine room door, stumbling once along the way as another violent tremor shook Serenity's floor. As he was struggling to close the door, Simon heard Kaylee's scream, followed by a loud. Breathing heavily, Simon turned around to call for Kaylee when his heart stopped in his chest. Kaylee lay unconscious on the engine room floor, bleeding from her forehead, with engine parts scattered about her that Simon could not begin to identify.

"Kaylee?" Mal's voice sounded from the engine room intercom. "Kaylee we lost engine power what's going on?"

Simon had never been so greatful for his medical training in his life as it allowed him to focus remain calm as he entered his 'doctor mode.' After quickly determining that Kaylee's vitals were steady, Simon frantically looked around for a suitable cloth or rag to serve as a bandage. He found several rags, but they were all covered in engine grease and Simon wanted to stop her bleeding without causing an infection. Of course, I'll use my shirt. He grabbed his right sleeve with his left hand and tugged fiercely at the material, wincing as it tugged uncomfortably against his injured shoulder before tearing and sliding off of his arm. Simon hastily applied the makeshift bandage to Kaylee's injury while releasing a breath he did not realize he was holding.

"Kaylee! Are you okay?" Mal's voice sounded again, desperately through the com, "Mei mei, what happened?"

"Oh God," Simon gasped as he realized both the engine and the engineer were non-responsive and he was the only one that could see to either of them.

"Ms. Wu, the Firefly Class Transport is under attack," the Golden Lotus's Captain informed Lien as she entered the bridge.

Oh God! Simon, please be ok. "Deploy the ASREV's and turn this ship around. I want an emergency response team prepared and our medical facilities on standby."

"Yes ma'am."

"Who are they? How did this happen?"

"They appear to be pirate vessels. More than likely, they were running dark and waiting to ambush the first defenseless craft to cross their path. Those are not warships and our ASREV's should have little difficulty in dealing with them."

"But will they get there in time?"

"We have every strategic advantage in this engagement. All that Firefly has to do is give use a little more time," the Captain said as he dodged the question.

Lien Wu watched helplessly as the Firefly's bulb flickered twice before going dark.

"Jayne, I need you to check on Kaylee." Mal ordered into the com.

"Cain't Mal, there's a hull breach somewheres," Jayne replied, "computer won't let me out of my bunk!"

"Inara?" Mal asked.

"Same Mal, I am effectively locked in my shuttle."

"Doc?" Mal asked and tried again after getting no response, "Simon, can you get to the engine room?"

"I'm here, Captain. Kaylee's alright now, but she's unconscious."

Of all the ruttin' luck. "Can ya wake her?" Mal asked.

"No, but I have an idea," Simon replied.

"No! Don't do it!" River cried. Mal was glad his com was not transmitting at the moment. Like it not, Simon was their best option at this moment and Mal did not want the boy losing his nerve by listening to his troubled sister.

Zoe held River tightly as the girl babbled incoherently in another language, and asked the Captain, "You have any idea what he's going to do sir?"

"To be perfectly honest Zoe, I'm afraid to find out."

"Calm down," Simon attempted to comfort himself, "it's all just academic really. Fact, Kaylee knows how to fix the engine. Fact, I am the only person here. So… I just need Kaylee's knowledge in my head…now!" Simon shouted as he stared intently at Kaylee's unconscious form.

Simon frowned and tried again, "Or how about… now!" Still he received nothing.

He placed his hand on her forehead and chanted, "My mind to your mind. Hmm… oh sorry, that's backwards." Why did I apologize? It's not like… wait… can she hear me… or my brain?

Simon shook his head to clear it and tried again, "You're mind to my mind!"

Still no response… "Meld with my consciousness! Embrace eternity! Go mind go!" Simon shouted in desperation.

Simon ran a hand through his hair and groaned in frustration. His eyes and mind wandered until they came across curious gadget on lying on Kaylee's workbench. It was some form of wide armband with a needle hooked up to a small electric motor and five chemical vials. "The drugs!" Simon exclaimed. It appeared Kaylee had found a way for Simon to covertly utilize them already. Simon fastened the armband around his sleeveless right bicep and pressed the button. The small needle bit into his flesh and released the chemicals meant to enhance his latent psychic abilities.

Simon gasped as his mind was overrun with emotional chaos. Fear, pain, hate, worry, love and hope flowed through him as Simon cried tears that were not his own. Focus Simon, focus, Simon mentally ordered himself as he attempted to enter 'doctor mode.' You have a patient, her name is Serenity. You need to acquire her complete medical history from her caretaker, Kaylee.

Kaylee's knowledge and personality flooded into him, sweeping his consciousness away in its powerful current. For the next few moments, Simon thought he really was Kaylee. "Ain't no power in the 'verse gonna keep my baby from flyin'," Simon said as he grabbed his favorite wrench and went to work. "Don't worry baby," Simon told Serenity, "I'll have ya up and runnin' afore you could spit! Not that you spit, but… you know…"

Simon diverted power around the damage sectors, replaced the compression coupling and smiled as Serenity's heart began beating once more, its engine surging triumphantly to life. Simon wiped a bit of grease off of his cheek and patted his engine affectionately, cooing, "that's my good girl…"

Mal was nearly thrown out of the bridge as Serenity went from a complete stop to full burn without warning.

"I'll be damned," Zoe whispered, "he actually did it."

"Hang on travelers," Mal said to no one in particular as he took the helm and guided Serenity away from the pirates and past the approaching luxury liner.

"Big brother saved us all," River said with pride and a hint of worry.

"That he did little one," Mal exclaimed, "and at this speed, we'll be half way to Londinum afore any of them can even turn around! 'Might need to give 'im a raise. Whaddya think, from peanuts to pistachios?"