Read: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12

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“WARNING. Hazardous gasses have been detected on Deck 5, Section 18. Evacuate immediately.” “JIN-GAO. Wu hao jia ban, shi ba hao qiu jian ce dao wei xian de du qi. Li ji shu san.”

Slipping unnoticed past a growing assemblage of crewmen wandering sleepily out of their quarters, Book whispered an ironic prayer of thanks to whoever had written the software controlling the cruiser’s onboard comm system. He hadn’t expected them to get far after their escape had been announced, but some soft-hearted developer had apparently felt that life support warnings took precedence over internal security alerts.

Hurrying nonchalantly past a few more corridors, Book reached the shuttle bay just behind Inara. River was already kneeling next to a manual override control, holding what appeared to be the end of a stethoscope up against the release mechanism as her fingers danced across a nearby keypad.

“River, where did you –”

“Was too cold. Didn’t like it. Hid it from Simon,” she admitted, managing to look simultaneously grumpy and guilty. Apparently satisfied with her examination, River stood and tugged on the release lever with both hands. With Inara and Book’s assistance, the release finally gave way and escape pod doors began cycling open up and down the entire bay.

Book quickly led Inara to the nearest pod, as a worrisome fog began to flood the bay from several nearby corridors. River hesitated. She turned slowly in a circle, looking down as thin wafts of smoke swirled about her ankles. She closed her eyes.

"Not yet...they can't be empty...can't be empty."

Inara paused at the pod’s entrance, confused. "River, I’m sure the crew can take care of..."

"No, wait...can't be empty...wait..." she tugged at the shepherd’s arm, pulling him away from the escape pod. He and Inara shared a concerned look as the dark gasses continued to flow across the floor of the shuttle bay. Book looked down at River and saw in her eyes the certainty that had guided them thus far.

“Never let it be said that I’m not a man of faith.” Book punched a nearby comm panel. “All crew on deck five, section eighteen report to the shuttle bay for evacuation. I repeat – all personnel report to the shuttle bay immediately.”

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Continue to Part 14