Mal stood there as Simon pulled the sheet over Wallace Upton’s body.

Two days.

Two days since the diagnosis, the plucky little livery owner, a boy that had survived losing his legs in the war, had died because his lungs had drowned in fluid. He died because of the fact they still couldn’t get medication, because all Simon had in his dwindling medical supply just took the edge off the pain.

Wallace was also the seventh person to die that day.

The weaker ones were going fast. Elderly, newborns, sickly; and Wallace had been one of those weaker ones as Simon broke to the poor livery owner’s wife the news. Mrs. Upton was ill too, lying on the couch of their loft above their horse stables as her shoulders heaved and her breath choked with tears. Her six month old daughter had been wrapped that morning, so she was beyond consolation with the loss of both child and husband.

Mal swallowed a heavy lump that had settled on his voice box. Clearing his throat, he walked down the stairs and into the musty barn that smelt like hay and ponies. Scratching the corner of his eye, it was how he dealt with grief as his face, ashen from the cold of the day, turned to see the pine boxes in town square. Seven people dead in two days, and half of the town infected as the number grew. He was still waiting, Inara was trying to get in contact with whatever past client could help as well as trying a thousand different avenues for rumors of black market meds were all over the coretex. Meds if you had enough money, since Inara couldn’t get a hold of her friend yet, that was the current plan. The town, as their loved ones faded away, were raising money for a black market exchange.

Mal was getting impatient though. A hiest was beginning to set in his marrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inara had dressed herself well for the wave.

Finally, after two days of not getting a response and chasing various black market offers, she had gotten a short video telling her a wave meeting was in order that day. Kaylee had Meilin, so she wouldn't be distracted whilst talking to her old friend. Hearing the chime, she touched the screen and suddenly the pixilation cleared and fell upon the man she had been wanting to talk to. He was a stately looking fellow, with a square jaw and head full of hair that was the shade of dark chocolate mousse. Umber eyes greeted her, along with a flash of perfectly veneered teeth.

"Inara, ai-ren my heart swells at the sight of you." He began with warm voice. "It's been too long. Four years?"

"It really has, Klaudius." The sentiment was sincere as she smiled back. “Far too long, but both of us have a busy schedule, and you have no need for a companion as you’re married.”

“Too true. Before we get down to business, tell me how you are..."

"Oh you don't want to here about that...."

"Of course I do! I consider you a friend, not 'companion' and I 'consumer'. It's been ages and I am dying to know if you are well or not. Sparing me of the details of work of course."

"You won't be having to avoid the details." Her voice was pained some, yet she kept a well maintained smile. "I'm no longer a companion."

Klaudius' lovely face was perplexed.

"I hate to burst your hopes of me using it as a platform to pursue larger things. However I'm away from the core, and at the threat of sounding banal I have a new daughter and a swain that I am senselessly in love with."

"Well congratulations on the baby and the partner! May I ask if she is destined to follow in her mother's well poised footsteps?"

Inara chuckled. "At six weeks old I doubt she's ready. And even if she was I don't think her father would have it. He's not as nearly as progressive as you and I."

"I suppose most fathers are that way."

"I suppose as well. How are you?"

"Decent. Still madly in love with my wife, she’s in Capital City right now, preparing to fly out for a vacation from the parliament debacle that’s all over the core.” He sighed with a heavy chest, shaking his head in disapproval. “Since the unveiling of the planet Miranda the core isn't as it was. There has been much defiance towards the government, and the fear of a coup d'état has been fluttering about. It just means us at the pinnacle of the pyramid must invest in personal security."

Inara nodded her head. “I hear that the medicinal industry has been hit quite hard.”

"Yes, but have no fear, soon everything will be quelled back into peace. In the meantime my manufacturing ships are turning out while everyone else can’t. I suppose while the others suffer I’m swimming in prosperity."

That made her stomach wrench. Klaudius was a good man, yet a rich man who loved being rich regardless of the cost of others. She was the exception, he regarded her and would move mountains is she asked.

"So, what is this business we must talk about? It feels awkward, I keep feeling this would be better face to face over tea."

"I wish we could, but it's too urgent to be postponed for tea." Seeing he was once again confused, Inara divulged. "We have a small crisis over here. Someone came into the town nearby infected with Lilac Syndrome, and because of the fact we're on a border planet nearly everyone has gone unvaccinated." Her voice twinged sadly. "I was hoping you would do me a favor and sell some of the precious antibiotics and help our doctor. We have a ship and can dock on your ship. I know you’re probably only contracting to the Alliance right now, but we’re gathering money and we’ll meet or exceed the going rate."

"I wish I could help my dear Inara.” Klaudius’ voice was sincere as he truly adored her still. "If I had the Zygramithol I would most definitely sell it to you and your town regardless of my contract. However I am sorry to say I cannot provide you with any Zygramithol. The ship I’m on, The Asclepios, was the one ship that manufactured Zygramithol and we were just robbed three days ago. A pirate crew took down the Alliance patrol ship following us, bumped our cargo airlock and stole every last thing of what we had made and boxed. I won't be able to get another batch done for another two weeks at the least."

Inara's spirit's sank, but was equally perplexed. "Somebody robbed your ship?"

"I can't believe it myself. They overrode all of my electronic security and managed to seal most of the guards in the remainder of the ship. It's surreal."

"Klaudius?"

"Yes?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zoe knew she had Lilac Syndrome.

She felt like she was burning up as she laid there. Above the covers on her bed as sweat glistened and fowled her brown skin, skin that was once smooth, now beginning to raise and mar with dark sores. Her head pounded, throbbed so much she had thrown up in the wastebasket by her bed as her lungs wheezed like wind rattling beads against a washboard. Simon hadn’t checked her that morning, and Zoe was glad. There was too much stress on them already, no need for her to become another burden.

And secretly, a part of her wanted to not make it.

“Don’t think that, Lambytoes.”

Her eyes, which had been closed, snapped open. Head lolling to the side, black curls falling in sweaty ringlets against her pillow, she saw him. In his favorite coveralls and Hawaiian shirt. Bright eyed, handsome even though he was concerned, and looking very much so alive. Her mouth opened, and with a wheeze she tried to say his name.

Wash gently pressed a finger to her lips. “Don’t waste a breath on me, Honeybunch. Yes, I’m here. No, you’re not crazy.”

Her eyes were doubting his last comment.

“The big guy upstairs said I could to be down here with you, so surprise.” He gave a hopeful smile, gesturing to himself. “I get to be your guardian angel…. Kinda…. I guess it’s unconvincing seeing as I don’t have a set of those wings and a big halo, but what can I say, I’m the contemporary sort.”

Zoe shut her eyes and shook her head. “Ai-ya wo yao kuang.”

She was poked, her bleary eyes snapped open.

“Can a hallucination do that?” his finger pressed her shoulder again.

“How the hell do I know…” Wheezing, she caught her breath. “Never had one before.”

Wash feigned injury. “You know, that hurts, calling me a hallucination and all. I didn’t have to be here, I wasn’t appointed, do you know the amount of paperwork I had to fill out to even request coming down here to be with you in your hour of need? I could be out swimming in a golden ocean instead of back in the ‘verse. I must say, Sugarpie, I expected a warmer welcome.”

*** *** *** *** TRANSLATIONS/DEFINITIONS Ai-ren: sweetheart

Ai-ya wo yao kuang: My god I am going crazy

******

**As always, the writer appreciates all comments whether they be positive, negative, or suggestions.**