“Jayne get down out of that tree!”

“But Mal, I can see the target.”

“And he can see you, now get down.” Under his breath could be heard, “go se brained fool.”

-----

Mac had gotten used to working long hours behind a bar. He had learned to tolerate Dani flirting with the Alliance customers. He could even make do with low pay; however, he was having a real problem with showing Dani no attention during the day, especially since the boss kept shortening the hem. The bar they had been working at had never been very good, but with good proximity and a pretty new waitress, the Alliance personnel had flocked in.

Dani could feel Mac’s frustration with their situation. The feeling of family gives him strength and his strength is her strength. The flirting she endured had allowed her to amass many codes and particularly more important, Simon’s cell location. She also knew that they believed River to be dead.

-----

“…any questions?... Jayne, you’ll be with Cole and Me. Mac and Dani know their assignment. Zoë you and Wash will keep our exit clear. Kaylee, you and Book keep Serenity prepped. Katie, you’re with Kaylee, good luck. We’ll hit them around 0230 local time, when the graveyard shift is settled in. Dani can you procure the ID card we need?”

“Should be no problem Captain. There’s one sergeant I’ll have no problem getting alone…”

“And I’ll have no problem dispatching him.” Mac interjected.

“I just hope we’re in time.” Cole commented.

“He’s alive, weak, tired and hungry. Not able to focus. Needs a smoother and clothes.” River added from her hiding place,” strain showing on her face.

“Good to know little one. Inara, fly Mac and Dani down, then go to the House. The rest of us get some rest. We’ll muster at 2100 to land. Remember, Serenity has been repainted to identify herself as ‘Bane’s Pride’.”

-----

Serenity was quiet. Wash was on the bridge and Mal was walking the ship. Everyone had turned in after Inara had left with Mac and Dani. Satisfied that all was in order, Mal went to his bunk. River was curled up on her pallet, softly sleeping. Tossing his shirt onto the pile in the corner he sat down to pull off his boots and was startled to be inches from River.

She kissed him on the forehead. “Sleep.”

-----

Hours later Mal awoke feeling more refreshed than he had in years. River’s head lay on his chest; the rest of her was in his chair. What ever she’d done to him was welcomed, creepifying, but welcomed.

“River, wake up daughter.” He stated decisively.

“Daugh… What?”

Mal smiled at the rarity of catching the powerful psychic off guard. “Consider yourself adopted.”

“Captain Daddy!”

“Don’t call… I guess I asked for that.”

“Time to go get Simon?”

Is everybody awake?”

“Kaylee had a bad night, but she’ll hold true.” Everyone else is up and edgy, not much sleep.”

“River. Simon’s going to need you near for a bit. Once he’s better, if you want, you can move into Kaylee’s old bunk.

Her smile rivaled one of Kaylee’s. “Safe.”

-----

The “Bane’s Pride” was berthed just outside of town. Kaylee and Katie were watching the engine slowly spin in readiness. Book was on the bridge to handle any necessary communications. The rest of the crew were getting into position.

“Zoë,” Wash whispered, “will the mule carry all eight of us?”

“She’ll carry a couple a’ thousand pounds easy. Now eyes open, mouth closed… husband.”

Dani’s mark had been so eager he’d not noticed Mac. Now he was slung over Mac’s shoulder.

Mal, Jayne and Cole waited near the Alliance building.

-----

It was dark, just like Mal was wanting, when Dani and Mac arrived, “Who’d you get?”

“Sergeant McAda, maintenance engineer.”

“Perfect. Wash and Zoë are ready with the mule. We’ll start after that crowd disperses.”

Mac looked around, “How did you keep River on Serenity?”

“Didn’t even try. Did I River?”

“Daughters can be precocious.” River stated stepping from the shadows toward Mal, “problematic, irksome and annoying. Captain Daddy.” Stepping to Mac, “Simon takes so much looking after.”

“We’re lucky this isn’t a Core facility. There shouldn’t be more than four personnel to worry about. Once inside, Jayne you and Dani go with Mac, find the generator. Jayne, let Mac get set up the way Kaylee wants. Cole, we will go after Simon. River, do you sense him?”

“River gives Mal the ‘look’ for a few seconds. “Of course; the sun rises in the east.”

“Well of course it does little one… Do you understand your part in all of this?”

“Do you?”

Mal gives her the ‘Look’, “My plan…”

River’s gasp of pain was over almost as soon as it began. Tears streamed down her face, “He’s hurting Simon!”

Mal and Cole move to keep her from falling.

“Sonic blast,” Dani spoke through her own tears. “It’s over now. Feels like Simon may have some latent psychic abilities.

Mac, supporting his wife until she stood steady, said “Are we ready yet? I feel the need for some retribution!”

“Is it still clear?”

“Yes,” River spoke softly, “and the entrance is clear.”

-----

Entering had been easy. Mac, Dani and Jayne had gone to the generator room while Mal’s group went after Simon. Sergeant McAda’s Ident card allowed them easy access to the lower levels.

“River, can you sense anybody?”

“Two guards around the corner, three others three floors up and Walken with his new assistant, copulating.”

“Bit more than I wanted to know, and Simon?”

“Behind the guards.”

“Can you…”

“Yes.”

“Cole, she’s going to keep the guards from seeing us. Take the one on the right.”

It felt surreal, walking up to someone and them not seeing or hearing. Mal hit his man in the throat before snapping his neck. Cole on the other hand had decades of farm life to harden his hands, his blow to the guards face had pushed bone chips into the brain.

“Either of them have an access card?”

“Him.” River pointed to Cole’s victim.

River stood back, as Cole opened Simon’s cell, knowing what they would find…

TBC

Next: What they find in Simon'd cell