Simon had moved to the top of the stairs with Darcy following. River had moved so quickly that Simon hadn’t even had time to recognize she was leaving. The fraction of a second it took Gabriel to follow gave Simon the comprehension that planned events were changing, and so he moved himself closer to the action. “W-what...” Darcy stammered, her fear obvious in her voice. “What do we do?” Simon glanced over to see that Mrs. Cobb’s grip on her rifle was loosening as she trembled. He placed a hand comfortingly over hers as it gripped the weapon. “Just stay calm,” he soothed. “That’s what you can focus on. Breath slowly and know that we’re going to live.” The older woman nodded, closing her eyes and forcing her breathing to slow. Simon gave her hand a small squeeze of comfort and approval before creeping down the stairs with his pistol ready. The thunderous roar of gunfire below, mixed with the terrible screams of Reavers, made conversation immediately impossible, but when Inara turned tail and started sprinting recklessly toward him, Simon knew things had gone horribly, horribly wrong. Simon caught a glimpse of multiple Reavers, scabbed, brutalized, and horrifying, hit the bottom of the stairs and scramble toward him. Simon fired his pistol, taking slow, careful aim with his head shots. *What I lack in skill, I can make up for in patience.* The Reavers fell before his surgical precision, but they were immediately replaced with more of the ghouls. *What I lack in speed and skill *cannot* be made up for with patience,* Simon decided, turning and scaling the remainder of the steps as quickly as his legs would carry him. “Nowhere else to go!!” he screamed. “Cockpit!!” When he hit the upper deck, he flew around the corner, turning as he entered the crew area and slamming the door shut. He slid the deadbolt into locked position, then did the same with the door to the common room. As he headed down the corridor toward the cockpit, he saw Inara already waiting there with a shuddering Darcy Cobb. “It won’t hold them for long,” Inara voiced. “I know,” Simon replied as he scaled the steps and entered the bridge. He pulled the double sliding doors shut and locked them, as well. “But maybe it will hold them long enough.” “What are you talking about?!??” Darcy exclaimed. “Long enough for *what?!??*” “She doesn’t know the situation,” Inara began, “but she may still be right. You really want to lock your sister and Gabriel out there with those monstrosities?” Simon’s heart was pounding in his chest. He could imagine the blood being squirted through his atria and ventricles at a much higher pressure than normal. It was an unfortunate side effect of being a doctor. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the door. “Trust me when I say I hate ever fiber of my being for doing it,” he replied, “but I think our only chance left is for them to finish off the Reavers. The best we could hope for in these corridors would be to merely get in their way.” “So we wait it out,” Inara concluded. Simon nodded. “We wait it out.” “Hold on just one minute,” Darcy butted in. “I want to know exactly what’s going on here. What’s so special about River and Gabriel?” A new thought occurred to Simon at that instant. It was a very strange realization that actually made him grin. “It’s plain and simple,” he explained. He chuckled. “They’re real-life super heroes.” *************************************************************************

“What do you want?” Lerek Tuvial growled, wiping sleep from his eyes. “It’s two in the ruttin’ morning.” “You know what I want,” Gabriel replied, hugging his arms to his chest against the cold wind. “I ran out again.” Lerek sighed, motioning for Gabriel to enter his domicile. “I’ll see what I got,” he replied. “Close the door behind you.” He moved through the trashy living room to a desk, where he slid a drawer open and began pawing through the contents. “Lava ain’t cheap,” he mentioned. “Even here on Hera. Your deal with Haskal came through just fine, but that only buys you six bags.” “I gave him four hits last week,” Gabriel complained. “That’s four people dead. I think it should buy me a little more than six.” “Yeah?” Lerek spoke, turning from the desk and sliding the door shut. “Well, you need to take that up with him, not me. I don’t work for him.” He handed Gabriel a handful of small, plastic bags filled with red capsules. “This is ten bags,” he explained. “I’m frontin’ ya four, so don’t stiff me in the long run.” Gabriel nodded. “I won’t.” “An’ cut down on yer use of that stuff,” Lerek called after as Gabriel returned to the door. “I’m yer dealer, but I’m also yer friend.” Gabriel glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door. “I know what I’m doin’,” he spoke. “Then cut down,” Lerek told him, “before you fry your brain permanently.” *************************************************************************

*And to think that I could get addicted to a hallucinogenic used initially in interrogations,* Gabriel thought, scaling the stairs down into the lounge. *Well, three years is a good, long time to stay clean.* A Reaver appeared from within the infirmary, raising a strange-looking silver pistol. Gabriel’s hand shot out, twisting the weapon away, and his other hand connected with the Reaver’s throat hard enough to dislodge its windpipe. He slammed its head into the wall, crushing brain matter onto the metal surface. *I should be proud of myself, but I ain’t. Two of those years were in Academy custody.* River appeared from the direction of the passengers’ dorms. Ignoring Gabriel, a clouded look of lethality gracing her sweaty, blood-smeared features, she swept past him and up the stairs to the cargo hold. Thinking nothing of it, Gabriel continued with his own business, moving through the lounge and scaling the stairs to the upper deck. He turned left, moving to the engine room’s doorway. Some of the machinery had been trashed, but there were no Reavers. *All clear in here.* He turned away, heading back down the corridor toward the common area. Two Reavers exited that room, moving toward him with lethal intent. Gabriel met them with superior lethal intent, then moved past the crushed bodies and into the common room. The room was clean, but the far door was locked. Gabriel stopped before the door, peering through the porthole. *No Reavers in there, but the remainder of the friendlies are on the bridge.* River appeared behind him. “Ship’s been swept,” she reported. “We’re good. Cleanup successful.” Gabriel nodded. “Shiny.” He pounded on the door, trying to get the crew’s attention. A minute later, the double doors slid open and Simon’s face appeared at the end of the hall. Moving quickly down the corridor, he unlocked and opened Gabriel’s door. “How did we do?” the doctor inquired. “We’re clean,” Gabriel told him. “Don’t think we got any casualties.” “Don’t think?” Inara wondered, moving up behind Simon. “The others were forced into a shuttle and had to leave,” Gabriel explained. Simon nodded. “How’s your head?” “Bleeding. Throbbing. I fear for my consciousness.” Gabriel shrugged. “No biggie.” “Sit down,” River ordered, grasping Gabriel by his bicep and pulling him to a chair. “Maybe you should have taken your dance lessons more seriously.” “It was only *one!*” Gabriel insisted. “*One!*” “My son is safe?” Darcy queried, moving into the room with the others. Gabriel frowned and nodded. “Oh, yeah. They got away clean. *Ow!*” “Sorry,” Simon spoke apologetically as he examined Gabriel’s head wound. “Were you hit anywhere else?” “Ribs,” Gabriel informed. “Between this an’ the fall with Kaylee into the caves, I’d like ya to find some ribs that ain’t all busted up.” “I’m fine,” River spoke before Simon even had the chance to ask. “A couple of broken knuckles. And I’ll likely need stitches on my shoulder.” She shook her head, abashed. “Just didn’t see that blade coming...” “Yeah, a terrible mistake to make,” Gabriel mocked. “I ended up with twenty two kills.” River smiled sweetly, although Gabriel felt less-than-cheerful emotions radiating from her. “I wasn’t playing... but I removed forty six threats.” “Hell,” Gabriel announced, sinking back in the chair and closing his eyes. “What should we do next?” Simon inquired. Gabriel’s eyes shot open. “Why ask me?” “Look around you,” Simon told him, and Gabriel sat up enough to meet the gaze of every person in the room. “Okay, I’m lookin’. I ain’t seein’.” “We need a leader,” River explained. “You’re the only one here with military experience,” Simon added. Gabriel sighed loudly. “I was a dumb kid runnin’ ‘round with a gun an taggin’ with Mal an’ company. That ain’t military.” “And I spent most of my life in a hospital,” Simon returned. Gabriel began running through the ship’s chain of command aloud. “Chain of command... Mal, Zoe, Kaylee, Jayne-” “Wait a minute,” Darcy spoke. “Jayne told me *he* was third in command. Gabriel chuckled. “Of course he did.” He leaned forward in his chair. “See, this is how chains of command work. Since we’re civilians without rank, it goes by time in, an’ Kaylee’s been aboard a spell longer than Jayne.” “Do you see any of them here?” Inara inquired. “It’s only temporary,” River assured him, “but you’re the most fit to run a ship of any of us.” “Agreed,” Simon concurred. “Everyone here knows you’re not the most stable of individuals, but still... Agreed.” Gabriel closed his eyes again, pressing his palms to his face. *Niao se dub doo gway...* “Okay, fine. Y’all wanna follow a sorry-ass maniac like me, fine.” He stood. “Makes sense for a makeshift captain to run a makeshift crew. River, you spent some time with Kaylee. Go fix the fey-oo that’s messed up in the engine room, or if not fixed, do the best ya can. I don’t know what the Reavers did to it, but we need this ship runnin’ smooth as we can.” He turned to Inara. “Inara, you an’ Darcy go to the bridge and monitor for signals. If the shuttle’s waitin’ on us, Mal will try an’ contact us to know it’s safe to return.” His gaze finally settled on Simon. “You’re with me,” he decided. “Yer my first mate.” Simon stared at him. “*Me?!*” he exclaimed. “But I don’t-” “First rule of bein’ a first mate,” Gabriel interrupted. “Follow yer captain’s orders. Obviously, I picked you for a particular reason, an’ it sure as hell ain’t ‘cuz yer the only guy.” Simon peered at Gabriel for a moment. “Yes, Sir,” he said finally. “Where are we going?” River’s eyes widened, and she suddenly grasped both Gabriel’s and Simon’s arms. “*No...*” she whispered. Gabriel nodded. “Yes. Reaver ship’s got fuel, an’ fuel we need. Suit should protect you from the radiation from the containment breach.” “You should wear a suit, too,” Simon insisted. “Just to be safe.” Gabriel shrugged. “You seen my organs. I’ll be fine. Go get suited up.” *************************************************************************

“Well,” Mal observed, “ain’t this interesting?” The sleek, high-tech vessel that approached was painted solid black, making visual location difficult. It was definitely Alliance military design, although Mal somehow doubted that the crew were Feds. “Should we try to contact them?” Zoe wondered. Mal pursed his lips, shaking his head finally. “Let ‘em contact us, they want somethin’.” “We *should* call Serenity,” Jayne grunted. “Have ‘em come pick our asses up... if’n they’re *alive.*” “One problem at a time, Jayne,” Mal told him. The Comm beeped as a Wave was sent, and Mal hit the visual. An obviously dangerous, intelligent, viper of a man appeared on the screen. “*Captain,*” the man greeted. “*I take it you’re in a bit of a bind.*” “It would appear that way,” Mal responded, “but we’re actually just out here sightseein’.” The man laughed. “*I’m sure you are, Malcolm.*” “I’m afraid I’m at a loss here,” Mal admitted. “*Oh*,” the man started. “*My apologies. I’m Damian Ritter. You may have met some of my crew recently.*” “Only the two incompetent bungers you sent to infiltrate my ship,” Mal prodded. “I take it that was you who chased us off at the last minute, by an’ by.” “*Oh, I assure you, Captain, our aim was not to let you leave the planet,*” Ritter assured him. “*But here we are now, you and some of your crew stuck in a short-range shuttle too far from anyplace to go, a Reaver ship attached to Serenity, and my crew and myself in an armed vessel.*” “Looks like you got us at a bit of a disadvantage,” Mal admitted. “I guess it’s your move, ain’t it?” The soldier regarded him for a moment. “*We’re going to allow you to dock,*” he finally decided. “*Your weapons will be surrendered, and you and I are going to have a little chat.*” Mal narrowed his eyes. “What could you an’ I possibly have to talk about?” Ritter rolled his eyes. “*You know what. Gabriel Davin.*” “Ah,” Mal returned. “I see.” “*Let’s keep this civil, Captain,*” Ritter told him, “*and none of yours will be harmed. We talk, I take you back to your ship.*” Mal mulled this prospect over in his mind. “Well, I ain’t keen on it, but it don’t look like we have any other options.” Ritter nodded. “*We’ll wait for you at the airlock, but you’re not boarding this ship with weapons.*” “Understood,” Mal agreed. “We’re boarding their ship, then,” Zoe observed as the transmission ended. “Do you think we should expect a fruit basket? I’d think a welcoming gift of some sort would be in order.” Mal ignored her joking. It made him feel uncomfortable, yet. “I just hope he ain’t lyin’ about the ‘civil’ part...” “Smells like a trap,” Jayne voiced. “They already trapped us,” Mal answered. “Let’s just do this thing.” *************************************************************************

“You don’t have to do this,” River insisted, helping Gabriel out of his space suit. He and Simon had just hooked a hose from the Reaver ship’s fuel supply to Serenity’s, and they were preparing to board the other ship to initiate the fuel transfer. “Yeah, well,” Gabriel excused, “if there’s any surprises, I don’t want a suit in the way of my fightin’.” “That’s not what I meant,” River explained. “I want to go in with you.” Gabriel shook his head. “Ya wouldn’t be of use in a fight, anyhow. You’d have to wear a suit, just like Simon.” He shrugged his arms from the sleeves and bent to bunch the suit around his calves and ankles. “Artificial organs have their radiation-resistant advantages.” “Radiation affects the eyes and testicles of males before it affects anything else,” River informed. “Are those artificial, as well?” Gabriel thought for a moment. “I’ll be quick about it, then,” he joked. Again, River did not laugh, and Gabriel suddenly became quite serious. “Honestly, though, *I* don’t wanna go in there. You don’t hafta see what’s in that ship. An’ you should be fixin’ things in the engine room right now, anyhow.” “I’m a psychic,” River claimed matter-of-factly. “I already know what’s to be found in there.” Gabriel sighed. Stepping forward and out of the suit, he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers as he gently grasped her upper arms. “I just... I’ll feel *better*, you not seein’ that with your own eyes.” River felt herself calming. “This doesn’t sound like my ‘Makeshift Captain’ speaking,” she joked. “No,” Gabriel admitted. “This is Gabriel speaking. Stay here and initiate the fuel transfer from our end, dong ma? *Please?*” River nodded, then turned her head to kiss him on the cheek. “Be careful in there. If anything happens to my brother, I can whup your butt.” Gabriel laughed. “I saw that today, Wonder Woman.” “Who’s Wonder Woman?” Simon inquired from behind him, and Gabriel quickly stepped away from River. Gabriel turned. “Nothin’. Some mythical individual with supernatural abilities created for entertainment purposes in the mid-twentieth century.” He shrugged. “I read a lot.” “Ahh,” Simon spoke. “I remember reading about comic books.” He grinned, which was odd. “So a super hero, huh?” Gabriel smiled back at him. “You sure yer sis is a product of the Alliance? I could swear you just read my mind. Oh, an’ I just remembered.” He turned back to River. “You noticed the weird pistols a lot of the Reavers were carryin’?” River nodded. “Laser pistols.” Gabriel frowned. “Is that what they were? Anyhow, I’m workin’ on a theory. Gonna see if I find many more of those on the Reaver ship.” He moved toward the stairs that led below. “Get yer helmet back on, Doc. We got work to do.”