“Get your things together,” Zoe called as she marched through the halls of the Firefly Serenity. “River’s preppin’ the second shuttle right now.” “Already done,” Jayne informed as he joined his temporary captain. “Can I bring grenades?” “No!” Zoe exclaimed. “Just kiddin’.” As everyone but River and the captured Helen Hayze gathered, tense and questioning, in the cargo hold, Zoe stood before the crew. Even the cop, Park Nanaka, whom they’d kept under close watch until they’d found Gabriel and could safely release him, was in attendance, albeit unarmed. “Jayne,” she began, “there’s no question. You’re coming with me.” “I thought as much,” Jayne professed. Park’s hand rose. “I know I’m supposed to be a captive,” he began, lowering the arm, “and that I can’t be trusted, but... this man saved my life. Even if you can’t trust me, could you give me the opportunity to do the same in kind?” Zoe arched an eyebrow at the Asian man. “Fine,” she decided finally. “But you don’t get a gun.” She then met the gaze of each and every person present. All were determined to board the research vessel and see to Gabriel. *Ain’t gonna argue,* she thought. *Just don’t feel like it.* “We’re goin’ in fast and hot,” she announced, leading them up the stairs and to the shuttle. It was a short trip from Serenity to the medical ship. Shortly thereafter, a thump, followed by the sound of latches catching, signified the attachment of the shuttle to the med vessel. “There’s the seal,” she stated. “Gab’s been gone for two weeks, and we don’t know the situation, so I’m going in first. When he’s located, if he’s acting...” She couldn’t even finish the words. “...You shoot him without hesitation and with every bullet in your gun.” She clenched her jaw, straining speech through her teeth. “All of you.” “That won’t be necessary,” River declared, rounding the corner from the flight cabin. She glided into the room, not with her normally bare feet, but with her knee-high combat boots tightly laced. “He bent. He bent very, very far. But he did not break.” “Elastic psychology in unstable brain chemistry?” Simon ventured, referring to his previous debate with The Operative. “Regardless of my trust in River,” Zoe decided, “we take no chances. Everyone’s on high guard.” Again, she eyed the crew. “Anyone not up for this?” There was no answer. Seven individuals entered the airlock on Zoe’s touch of the controls. The entrance to the med ship swiftly slid open, as if Death’s camera had snapped a photo shot of the would-be rescuers. Zoe took point, her lever action sweeping the corridor. *No answer on the Comm, so Gab could be in any condition at this point...* As if on cue, the man stumbled around a corner and stopped. He stared at the seven newcomers in shock. Holding a hand out to halt the individuals behind her, Zoe trained her rifle on Gabriel’s head with the other hand. “Say something,” she ordered. Gabriel frowned in curiosity. “Yer gun needs cleanin’. Not, yanno, *bad,* but there’s definitely some carbon buildup.” Her gun arm collapsing under the weight of a hundred arms, Zoe began her rush forward, but Gabriel held up a hand haltingly. “No touching. I hurt. No touching.” River stepped out from behind the group, and Gabriel grinned from ear to ear. “Okay, I’ll suffer *you* touching me.” As gently as her overwhelming excitement could contain, River enveloped Gabriel in a hug. Gabriel winced as he slowly and painfully wrapped his own arms around the smaller creature. An instant later, River began to weep. She slid down Gabriel’s broad, yet bruised frame until her face was resting against his knees and began to sob in fitful conniptions “What’s wrong?” Inara inquired worriedly. “What happened?” His face as pale as a ghost, his eyes even more haunted, Gabriel somberly regarded the others. “She knows,” he murmured. “She knows everything.” Zoe frowned. “What, Gab? What does she know? What happened to you?” Gabriel could not bring it upon himself to make eye contact with anyone. “I... don’t wanna talk about it.” There was a moment of tense silence before Gabriel collapsed to the ground, his rear ramming into the deck. River crawled forward to embrace him as Gabriel began his own wracking sobs. It was the first time Zoe had ever seen Gabriel cry. When he was fourteen years old, and his parents had just been shot to death, Gabriel did not cry. Whatever it was that had caused this complete breakdown of the young man’s emotional barriers, it was something that had absolutely violated his very soul. *Reavers.* It was the only thing that Zoe could force herself to think to herself. *Reavers.* “You couldn’t help it!” River screamed. “The darkness swallows the light, and you can’t see! They *made* you watch; they *made* you eat, and I don’t care *what* you think! You *didn’t* enjoy it!” She began babbling incoherently, but regardless of whether or not her speech would have made any sense, it was overwhelmed by the cries of anguish from both parties. “Gorram Reavers...” Jayne muttered to himself furiously, his knuckles white on his weapon. *Lord,* Zoe thought, her own eyes tearing, *I’m glad I ain’t psychic.* *************************************************************************

Helen studied the wall of her room for the millionth time, still determined that the paint color looked very tacky. Her bun long-since unraveled, her long, blond hair drooped across her shoulders like a beaten puppy. *This is really getting old...* As a result of good behavior, Helen’s bonds had been replaced with a set of handcuffs, and she was now allowed the bed in the stead of the chair to which she had been bound. She was uncuffed only upon arrival in the bathroom. Jayne Cobb, who had, apparently, had her appointed as his charge for being the one who captured her, had allowed her three sponge baths in the entire two weeks. Although he’d stood, leering and grinning, in the room to taunt her as she began the first, as soon as she’d begun to casually undress, anyway, he’d left the room without a word. *So he has only secret gentlemanly traits,* Helen had thought to herself. *Interesting.* Now, she lay on the bed, hands cuffed in her lap, with nothing to do but think. Helen fell back to stare now at the ceiling. She knew why they kept her; The Operative had visited her briefly in her tastelessly-painted cell before announcing his presence to the crew. Her captives had to know exactly how dangerous she, as a member of Ritter’s team, must be. *Still clueless as to why they don’t just kill me.* *************************************************************************

“Yer a titch quieter’n usual,” Dante observed, turning to look at Emily across the cockpit. “What’s up yer kayster?” Emily turned to regard the man coldly. “I rarely speak around you,” she reminded, her voice even, yet hostile. “What’s your point?” Dante grinned, turning back to the star-speckled window. “Remember our conversation ‘bout empathy?” Emily nodded. “You explained that an empath, unlike a psychic, cannot read minds. Instead, they read emotions only.” “Aye, right on the coin, Li’l One,” Dante confirmed. “Me an’ Gabe are both empaths.” He chuckled. “An’ that’s the *least* of what we got in common.” “I worked that one out on my own,” Emily informed. “Okay,” Dante continued. “So... what’s eatin’ yer cake?” Emily again turned her cold, hostile gaze on the killer. “You blew right past Serenity, and not like you didn’t notice them. You purposely got close. To tease them.” Dante nodded once, still gazing ahead. “Blocks o’ dust, an’ nothin’ more.” Emily shrugged off the unfamiliar Hera slang. “You told me that if I helped you, you’d give me Reynolds.” “All in good time, Darlin’,” Dante assured. “Case yeh haven’t noticed, I don’t got my own prize yet, neither.” “Because you *let him go!*” Emily squeaked, exasperated. “His relation to you is irrelevant! If you want him so badly-” “Would yeh have me bump a lead toddy into yer Malcolm?” Dante questioned, finally turning to look at his companion. “Would yeh?” Emily sighed. “No.” She frowned. “At least, I *think* the answer to that is no...” “Then let me an’ Gabe work out our differences on our own terms,” Dante directed, “an’ mind yerself.” A bleep on the console alerted Dante to an approaching vessel. Scanning said proceeder, he cackled. “Well, juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean jan!” he exclaimed. “Whaddaya know...” He turned again to Emily. “What say we have ourselves a wee bit of fun, yeah?” *************************************************************************

“Sir!” Tull called out, scanning his instruments. “We have a vessel approaching at high speeds.” Damian leaned forward in his seat. “Well, find out-” Before Damian could even get the sentence out, the Comm squawked an interruption. “*How’re yer ma’s an’ pa’s, Damian?*” It was Dante’s voice. “*Yer too late! I got ‘im first!*” The psychopath guffawed. “*Catch us if yeh can!*” As the ship blew past at breakneck speeds, Damian’s heart began to pound. “He’s got Davin!” he exclaimed. “Turn this gorram thing around!! Full pursuit!!!” *************************************************************************

Simon had allowed Gabriel time to regain his composure before beginning the examination. “You’ve done an amazing job of tending to your own injuries,” he observed, “although these fresh ones definitely need attention.” Gabriel shrugged. “Amazing the things you can find to help you on a med ship. The new ones ain’t yet an hour old, anyhow.” He brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. “Had ‘nother Dante run-in.” “You’ll probably need another surgery on your ribs,” Simon continued, attempting to pry River away from his patient and failing. “That shoulder blade ought to be looked to, as well. We should get you to the infirmary.” “No way, Doc,” Gabriel determined. “Got some things I gotta show ya.” He attempted to stand, winced, and Simon extended his hand to help the younger man to his feet. “There ain’t only a lot of equipment ya can use, there’s also millions of credits on this boat.” Jayne perked up like a dog who had a treat waved in his face. “Sorry,” Zoe cut in. “Did you just say *millions?*” Gabriel nodded. “Yeah, looks like. Ain’t no expert, but I doubt the hospitals on Osirius an’ Ariel got equipment this advanced.” Turning, he began to limp the way. His knee began to give out, and River and Jayne were both grasping to support him. “I have him,” River assured. “Sure ya do,” Jayne replied, unconvinced. “Can’t have my little drinkin’ buddy gettin’ any more banged up’n he already is.” “Both of you let go,” Gabriel decided. “I got it good myself.” After several moments of winding through corridors, Gabriel led the gathered into what appeared to be a laboratory. Simon’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as he gawked about. “3-D neural imager, DNA synthesizer/demoleculizer/analyzer, a rapid bone electrolysis incubator...” He ran his fingers back through his hair, astonished. “They’ve got *everything.*” “Toldja,” Gabriel reminded. “So, this stuff’s worth a lot of money, right?” Jayne hopefully reiterated. “Jayne,” Simon replied, “there are machines in this room that I’ve never even seen before.” “So...” Jayne repeated, “...it’s worth money?” Zoe rolled her yes. “Yes, Jayne. We’re rich beyond our wildest dreams.” “We’ll never find buyers for half this stuff,” Kaylee pointed out. “If hospitals don’t even carry it...” “This is the most important part,” Gabriel stated, continuing to limp them along the tour. They were led to a lift that took them down two levels and opened into another corridor. A moment later, Gabriel led them around yet another corner to a different laboratory. “I don’t recognize a single thing,” Simon informed, staring at all the equipment. “Wait!” He rushed to a nearby machine. “*This* one I do recognize.” “From where?” Park inquired. Simon looked as if he’d seen a ghost. “At the Academy,” he replied. “When I rescued River.” “Funny you should say that,” Gabriel observed. He continued across the lab and around rows of computer equipment, finally halting at a large, fluid-filled glass cylinder. Laying face-up in the cylinder, hoses and wires running into and out of her, was a young girl. River choked back a sob and pressed her face into Gabriel’s chest. Simon stared at the nude woman. *She’ can’t be any older than River...* “She’s a psychic,” Gabriel informed. “Or at least, she was.” He glanced over at some diagnostic and life support equipment. “Now, all she is, is dead.” Inara gasped. Kaylee’s hand came to her mouth. “They’re still doing it,” Simon growled, ferocity in his tone. “They’re still experimenting.” “There are others in the same project River was in,” Gabriel reiterated. “I already know, from the memories Inara’s hypnosis helped me surface, that there were others in my own program.” He squared his shoulders as he faced Simon. “I want you to autopsy.” “Don’t do it!” River begged. “Don’t!” “We can’t jus’ cut ‘er up,” Jayne agreed. “That’d be... indecent.” “You can find things out,” Gabriel continued, ignoring the objections. “Things that can help you fix River.” Simon stared numbly at the floating corpse. “I...” He sighed. “It would help...” “Help enough to be worth it?” Kaylee inquired, hoping against hope that Simon wouldn’t mutilate this poor, dead creature. “It’s for River,” Gabriel reiterated, his gaze locked in place with Simon’s. “We both know it’s worth it.” Finally, Simon nodded. “You’re right.” “No...” River moaned. “I know I’m right,” Gabriel responded, matter-of-factly. “It’s for River.” “That’s why you’re right.” The ship rocked, sending everyone sprawling, as something exploded. “What the hell was that?!” Jayne shouted, grasping for a purchase on nearby equipment. “It came from the direction of the shuttle,” Park noted. “Reaver trap,” Kaylee determined. “Must’ve been on a time-delay circuit, or-” “Couldn’t be Reavers,” Gabriel interrupted, “because...” His eyes narrowed. “Dante.” “*Warning,*” a tinny, female voice bleeped over an intercom system, sounding like an automated answering machine. “*Warning. Hull breach has occurred. Please move to the nearest secured cabin in a calm and orderly fashion. Warning. Warning...*” The message began again in Chinese.