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The Trunk By KaySky Chapter Three

“Dark man coming.” She said softly. “He knows what’s inside.” Simon came to his sister’s side. He offered comforting words as he held her tight.

“Simon,” Mal yelled as he came running down the stairs. “Take your sister and Daniel to Inara’s shuttle.”

“What’s going on?” Simon and Daniel said in unison.

“We’ve got people coming aboard. They say they need help.”

“If all they need is help why are we hiding?” Daniel asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.

“I got a trust issue.” Mal said as he reached the floor of the cargo bay. “Where’s the key?” He asked Daniel.

“My sister’s got it. Don’t I need to be handcuffed to this at all times?”

“How ‘bout we forget to mention this to your Uncle.” He turned to Simon. “Take River and get the key from Dani.”

As Simon walked River to Inara’s shuttle, she cried “the dark man’s coming” over and over again. The feeling in Simon’s stomach told him the dark man was indeed coming.

* * * *

Simon didn’t even knock. “Hey…” He began to speak, but then his eyes fell on Kaylee, who was still wearing the wedding gown. “…wow.” She was beautiful. Absolutely, positively, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She never looked so bright. She never looked so pretty.

“Simon don’t you know it’s bad luck to see your bride in her wedding dress before the wedding?” Dani teased.

“Huh…what…no…what?” Did he miss something? Sure he had thought about marriage. Even came close to asking her twice that night Vincent had arrived, but since then… He thought about it, yes… oh god, did he think about it out loud one day? Did he ask her to marry him without realizing it?

“It’s okay, Simon.” Kaylee said laughing. “Dani’s just teasin’.”

“Did River decide to join us?” Inara saw the look on the doctor’s face when he saw Kaylee. He was delightfully stunned. Then she saw the look on his face when Dani mentioned the wedding. She expected to see the look of terror on his face. Nope, he looked confused and delightfully stunned. Perhaps the doctor had thought about the subject after all.

Inara’s voice snapped him back into reality. “No, the key… I need the key to the handcuffs.”

“Why?” Danielle could tell he sounded worried.

“Another ship is about to board. They claim they are in need of help, but Mal wants everyone to be prepared incase… just incase.” Simon didn’t have time to argue. He didn’t want to have to argue.

“I’m not giving you the key.” Danielle said. “If Mal doesn’t want Daniel handcuffed to the trunk than I’ll be handcuffed to the trunk.” Her brother wasn’t lying. She had a way to get under people’s skin at the worst possible times.

“Dani, I don’t think Mal will…” He wasn’t going to get a chance to argue. Danielle was already on her way to the cargo bay. “Please, watch River.” He told Inara and Kaylee and went running after her.

* * * *

“Mal” Dani called out. “My Uncle gave specific instructions.”

“Sweetheart, I think there are exceptions.” There were definitely too many women on this ship, he thought.

“No, my Uncle is paying a lot of money and…”

“Ship’s docked. They are ready to come aboard.” Wash said over the speaker.

“We ain’t got time for this. Zoe, Jayne, and Book are in position. Simon take this…” He handed him a gun. “Stand by my side. Dani get the hell outta here.” Dani appeared to leave the cargo bay. “You gonna be okay, Daniel?”

“Do I have a choice?” He was scared. He didn’t like guns. His sister was so going to pay for this.

Captain Donovan appeared at the air lock. He had one man at his side, Davis. “Captain Reynolds I presume. I cannot offer enough thanks for helping out my crew.”

“Guess you’d be Captain Donovan.” His gun was aimed. “Don’t mind the gun, you know how it is. Hard to trust people out here in the black.”

“Completely understood, Captain Reynolds.” His eyes wandered as far as he could see. Only Mal and Simon were within eyesight. “What can I do to prove to you my crew and I are in the predicament we claim to be?”

“Don’t bring your weapons onto my ship.” Mal didn’t hesitate with his answer.

“Agreed.” He didn’t have a weapon in sight and he told Davis to lay his to the ground.

Mal opened the airlock letting Captain Donovan and his First Mate, Davis aboard. Daniel and the trunk were now in clear sight. “Captain Reynolds, can’t you lower your guns now. Clearly, I mean no harm.”

“Don’t believe him, Mal.” Everyone turned to see Danielle at the top of the stairs. She hadn’t gone back to Inara’s shuttle.

“Well if it isn’t little Danielle Blake.” An evil smirk appeared upon Donovan’s face. “My, my how we have grown up.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Mal ordered.

“You Captain Reynolds are a fool.” That line was the signal for his men to enter. Five large men carrying very large guns came storming aboard Serenity.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Donovan.” Mal knew his crew was in place. He didn’t want them to start firing just yet. “Mind tellin’ me what it is you want?”

“The trunk.” He walked over to the trunk noticing Daniel was attached. “Looks like I’ll have to take the boys arm, too. Unless someone wants to give me the key.”

“That trunk isn’t going anywhere.” Without any hesitation Danielle walked towards Donovan. “You betray my Uncle like this? After all he did for you?”

“Little girl, your Uncle has done nothing for me other than making my life miserable. He fired me. I lost everything.”

“He fired you because you were embezzling from the company. He was nice enough not to press charges.” She was standing next to Mal now. He held his arm out not letting her go any further. “You lost nothing but my Uncle’s money.”

“This trunk will settle the score.” He pulled out a gun that had been strapped to his chest. “I suggest if you don’t want things to get bloody you advise Captain Reynolds to let my crew and I go.”

“Oh you’ll go alright.” Anger was flowing through her voice. “But that trunk is staying put.”

“Remember what I told you about resistance, Davis?” Donovan’s men started firing.

It was seven against seven. Unfortunately, two on Mal’s side, the twins, had no weapons. Jayne, Zoe, and Book were shooting from atop the stairs as Mal and Simon took what cover they could and started firing against Donovan’s crew. Daniel had slide behind the trunk using it for cover and Mal had pulled Danielle behind him.

* * * *

“Gun shots?” Kaylee hoped she was hearing things.

“The dark man. Wants what’s inside.” River sat on Inara’s bed talking slowly and calmly. “Darkness is scared by darkness. Return of light will give the advantage.”

River rambled. She always rambled, but ever since rambling about The Three Musketeers, Kaylee took her rambles more seriously. She listened as River repeated herself. She was filled with fear, terrified of everything that was going on in the cargo bay, but she’d be strong. She’d be strong for River. She’d be strong for the Captain. “I got it!” Kaylee yelled.

“‘Nara, stay with River.”

“Kaylee dear, I don’t think you should be going out there.” Inara had her hand on Kaylee’s shoulder. She couldn’t let her leave.

“Don’t worry, ‘Nara. River’s got a plan.” Kaylee stared into Inara’s eyes. “Trust her, trust me.”

Tentatively, Inara gave Kaylee’s shoulder a squeeze and then let her go. “Be careful, meimei.”

* * * *

Bullets were still flying in the cargo bay. So far only one of Donovan’s men had been taken out.

“We need something.” Simon yelled to Mal. “We’re not doing too well here.”

“I can see that, Doc!” He yelled back. “Got any suggestions?”

The lights went out. The fire ceased. Donovan’s men were scrambling about. Unsure of what was going on. Zoe, Jayne, and Book never took their sight off the floor of the cargo bay. The kept looking down. The lights flipped back on and they had enemies in sight. Two of Donovan’s men were blinded by the sudden presence of light again. Bullets were fired. They didn’t have time to react. Two more men down. The lights went out again.

In the dark, Mal made his way towards the trunk. He was hopping when the lights flipped back on he’d have Donovan’s back to his front. He was hoping the lights would come back on. The later hope was answered. Mal shot. Davis fell to the floor. Three enemies left standing. The lights flipped off again.

“Dani, Dani” Simon whispered. She didn’t answer. The lights flipped on again. Simon saw Dani laying on the floor, blood seeping through her dress. She had been hit. Simon saw Donovan in the corner of his eye. He didn’t think. He aimed. The lights went out. He shot. In the darkness he heard a grown man cry in pain.

The lights flipped on once more. The last two members of Donovan’s crew saw their captain. He was bleeding, he was unconscious, but he was still alive. All guns were aimed at the final two enemies. “Think about your options boys.” Mal said. “You can take what’s left of your Captain and leave my ship or you can live long enough to watch your Captain die.”

The two men looked at each other. They lowered their guns to the floor.

“I’d say that’s a wise decision.”

The two men carried their captain off of Serenity. Mal hit the button, the air lock closed. It was sealed. “Wash get us the hell outta here.” He yelled over the speaker. He turned to Daniel. He seemed shaken, probably gained a few grey hairs, but he’d be fine. His eyes searched for Danielle.

“Help me get her to the infirmary!” Simon was hovered over her. She wasn’t moving.

To be continued...