A ship soared on through the night of space, the broad blue expanse of a planet beneath it. It was neither a large ship nor a small one, a transport of a model that had recently ceased production, but kept in fine condition, except for the large number of dings and scrapes on the hull, and the faint vestiges of red paint streaking the sides. An observer might at first glance think it one of the many small freighters that plyed the spaceways, until he realized that it was approaching Persephone from the far side, with almost a whole planet between it and the spaceport. If the observer also saw the Alliance dreadnought Magellan in high orbit above the spaceport, he would become aware that the ship he was viewing was a smuggler, willing to go the long way to avoid the Alliance. Even—especially--after the Miranda Tapes had aired, the Alliance was a force to be reckoned with. On the bridge of the ship, a lone figure stood, gazing up at the stars. The figure was female, of middle height, with long wavy black hair, a few strands of which she twirled around one finger. Her face was pale, not only with the reflected planetlight, with dark eyes and full lips held in a distracted grimace. She wore, incongruously, a long, dark red dress, cut just below her neck, embroidered with intricate patterns running down the front. The figure spoke as the door to the bridge opened. “Captain,” she said, not turning around. “River,” Mal said as he stepped through the door. “How are we doing?” “Well,” she said distractedly. “There doesn't seem to be anything wrong on the surface. We should land on schedule, even with the detour through the upper atmosphere.” “Good, good,” Mal replied, stepping around the pilot's chair to stand beside her. As he did, River added “I'm doing well myself, too. Looking at the stars helps...They're peaceful, they don't change. And...sometimes I think Shepherd Book is looking back at me.” She paused. “I know you think that's just go taso de superstition, but it does help.” “I often wish I could believe in things like that,” Mal conceded. “The Shepherd tried to point the way, but I never quite did see it. Too much of my life's been spent with the here and now.” He looked up. “Still, it'd be nice if they were all looking back...Wash, Shepherd Book, Mr. Universe...” River looked down again. “We'll be entering the atmosphere in a couple of minutes,” she said slowly. Mal nodded and turned to go back up to the pilot's chair. “I'll get her ready.” River's hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder, drawing him back to face her. “What the--” Mal began, then was cut off by River's lips as she pulled him into a tight kiss. “What the--” Mal repeated after several seconds. “You've wanted to ever since we boosted from Mr. Universe's,” River said quietly. Mal supposed he had, and that she would know better than he would, so he kissed her back, then took Firefly into the atmosphere of Persephone.

“You what?” Zoe exclaimed, nearly falling down the last few steps of the stairway. “You what?” Kaylee exclaimed, following close behind. “I know,” Mal said, a few steps ahead of them. Turning to Zoe, he added “I know she's seventeen, and acts like a child sometimes.” To Kaylee, “I know Simon probably won't approve.” “She's seventeen, and acts like a child sometimes,” Zoe said. “Simon—Do you have any idea what he'll say?” Kaylee said. “Although I do think it's kind of cute...” Zoe shot her a look and she fell silent. “Mal, how many times have you told me a captain shouldn't be involved with his crew members?” “Look, River can read my mind, do you understand?” Mal said. “I didn't have much of a choice.” “It is kind of cute...” Kaylee ventured. Zoe threw up her hands. “This is bizarre, and it keeps on getting more bizarre.” Glaring at Mal, she stormed back up the stairs and into the crew compartment. Kaylee looked up at her, then back at Mal, then hurried off after her. “We're landing in thirty, and I'm going to need you downside with me,” Mal called up after Zoe's retreating figure, “So get your fit over with quick!” He turned, almost bumping into Jayne as the mercenary climbed up out of the cargo bay. “What's she so upset about?” Jayne asked. Mal glared at him. “I won't be taking your gun this time, either.” “What?” Jayne asked, confused. “Oh. So now we're really not giving her up for the reward.” Mal's glare only intensified. “I guess they're not looking for her so hard anymore.” “Jayne, did you learn nothing from Ariel?” Mal asked. “It wasn't funny then and it's not now either.” “Sorry. So what's the plan this time?” Mal gestured up at the crew quarters. “We have another job with Badger. As soon as Zoe gets over her fit, I'll give the details.” “Badger?” Jayne asked. “Aren't we a bit visible for him now?” “He wanted us, he has the money, so in we go,” Mal said. Jayne looked up as the shuttle door opened. “Hey, here's Inara,” he said. “Greetings, Inara,” Mal said. “We'll be landing shortly. When would you like us to pick you up--” Inara slapped him hard across the face. “What, is this beat Mal up day? Jayne, are you going to take a turn?” “You...you...” Inara growled, her Companion's composure almost breaking down. “I could be back on Sihnon now, the High Priestess of House Madrasa! But I chose to come back here, I faced the Reavers with you, I helped fix the ship back up, I paid rent for my shuttle again.” She threw up her hands, glared at Mal's blank face, and stalked back to the shuttle door. Mal turned to Jayne. “I never thought I'd be asking you this, but what in the gorram system is going on?” “It shouldn't take my sister's superpowers to figure that out,” Simon said emerging from the crew's quarters and nearly vaulting down the stairs. “What do you think you were doing?” “Getting half my crew murderously angry, obviously,” Mal said, holding his jaw. “She's seventeen, and hardly what I'd call stable,” Simon continued. “On the other hand,” Jayne put in, “Now you two are really safe on board here.” “It's not funny,” protested Simon. “Really, what the hell were you thinking?” “Why don't you ask River that,” Mal replied, “She's the one who practically took me on the flight deck.” “Like I'd believe that!” “Look, Simon,” Mal said, stepping back into the middle of the cargo bay. “I'm not lying to you. You're--” “You're my crew, and I wouldn't lie to them, just take advantage of the more fragile ones!” “I wouldn't exactly call River fragile.” “Of course you wouldn't!” Simon shouted. Jayne interposed himself between the two men. “Captain, Simon, don't break each other.” “Do you know nothing about me?” Mal fumed. “I would never...do what you're accusing me of. Remember what happened last time you all decided I was taking advantage of some fragile female...we all almost got killed!” “Now you're comparing my sister to a rogue Companion?” Simon asked. “That's even better.” “Look, why don't you just go ask her?” Mal replied. “Because she's in my sickbay having another gorram breakdown!” Simon shouted. “If that's not your doing, then why is she curled up in a ball weeping inconsolably?” Jayne shrugged. “Because she was a raving lunatic before the Captain grappled with her?” “Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia suo-yo duh run doh gai si, Jayne!” Mal shouted, dashing around Simon and up the stairs. “I didn't start it, and I didn't--” he ended in an incoherent shout as he plunged through the doors and raced toward the infirmary. Simon followed in a mad dash. Jayne shrugged and sauntered after the running doctor.

Simon leapt down the steps and burst through the doors of the infirmary. Mal hadn't arrived yet, he noted as he rushed to River's side. She was still curled up on the corner cot, breathing heavily. “River, are you all right?” he asked, kneeling by her side. “It's too late,” she said softly. “He wouldn't listen.” “I'm glad he's not my patient right now,” Simon said, looking around for a surgical knife. “He wouldn't listen. We're all going to die.” “No, River, just him.” The infirmary doors flew open, and Simon rose, reaching for a scalpel lying on the cart. But it was only Kaylee. “It's me!” she called out. “You can put down the knife.” Simon lowered his arm. “What's going on?” she asked. “The Captain just ran through the dining room so fast he crashed into the table, and you're pointing knives at people.” She gestured to River. “Is she all right?” “Blood, blood and death” River whispered. “OK, so she's not all right,” Kaylee said. Behind her, Mal burst into the infirmary, nearly bowling her over. He righted himself, taking in the scene, then asked “River? Are you all right?” Simon rose to his feet, holding out the scalpel. “You get away from her!” he warned. Kaylee held out her arms between them. “What's going on?” she asked again. Mal pushed his way past her and came to River's side. “What's wrong?” he whispered. “You wouldn't listen,” she whispered. “Blood...too much blood...” It is well known that while quiet people can become loudly enraged, they are never more furious as when they are completely quiet. Simon soundlessly grabbed Mal by the back of the armpits and hurled him against the infirmary wall, then placed the scalpel to the back of Mal's neck. “You piece of luh-suh, at least you won't suffer like you made her.” He carefully laid the blade along Mal's carotid artery. And them found himself sprawled on the floor, the scalpel flung from his hand. “Nobody touch anyone!” River said clearly, rising from the cot. “There's too much blood already.” “What do you mean, too much blood?” Mal asked, stepping away from Simon and putting his foot on the scalpel's blade. Just then Jayne, Zoe, and Inara entered the infirmary. Jayne looked around at the cowering Kaylee and the sprawled Simon. “Did I miss all the fun?” he asked. “You can't go downside,” River said to Mal, putting her arms around his waist. “Gor—why not?” Mal asked, looking nervously at the gathered crew. River was silent for a moment, then exclaimed “Feds!” “Of course there are Feds, it's a gorram central world,” Mal said. “Never stopped me before.” “I knew you wouldn't listen,” River said sharply. On the floor Simon groaned, holding his head. Kaylee rushed to him. “OK, OK, I'm listening, Feds,” Mal said. “Is that what got you so upset?” River rolled her eyes. “Of course. There are Feds downside looking for us, and they know where to find us. I don't know what he” she gestured to Simon “thought I meant.” “You don't want to know,” said Mal. “Know anything more about these Feds?” River held him tighter. “They're...there are a lot of them. And they'll find us...and kill us. They're waiting for us.” “Waiting for us? We'll have to land somewhere else, then.” “You're still going to go downside? I knew you wouldn't listen.” Mal glared at Zoe and Jayne, still gathered by the door, and gathered his Captain's composure again. “You two, get ready to go downside. Who's flying this crate anyhow?” “That would have been...you,” River said. “I'll get right to it,” he replied. “Kaylee, how's our shiong-mung duh kwong-run doing?” “He's fine.” “Well, ee-chee shung-hoo shee, and then he and I are going to have a long chat when I get back.” Mal leaned over, kissed River's forehead, then broke her hold, heading toward the door. “C'mon, let's move, we have Feds to outfox!” River watched him depart. “Good luck, jen duh sh tyen tsai,” she said, then joined Kaylee at Simon's side.