Even before the neared the house they could see flames rises from the rooftops, the smell of burning flesh reached Mal’s nostrils almost making him gag, in all his years that smell was something a man just couldn’t get used too.

He signalled to Zoë to pull up close to the burning building behind some large rocks, before she had removed the key from the ignition the others were out of the mule and running towards the burning building.

Zoë watched in dismay as the first gun shot rang out and Mal stumbled as the bullet caught his shoulder, but she knew that he would never fall, he would keep on fighting for whatever, whoever he believed in. Zoë raised her gun and fired into what would have seemed to the untrained eye to be an empty window; however she was sure that the bullet had met its intended target.

Mal and the Jayne reached a bush the only cover between them and the house, Zoë joined them. “Now what Captain?” she demanded, as far as she could make out there were at least six more people which evitabley meant at least six more guns.

“Gorram moonbrained girl” Jayne swore as River stood up from there position and all hell broke loose. He watched River her head cocked slightly to one side as she listened to the sound of the bullets snake towards her through the smokey air, easily, gracefully she dodged each one giving the others time to slip around the back of the house and in through a broken, blackened window, they watched still amazed even after the events on Miranda as River drew her gun and in one fluid motion as if she were a prima ballerina fired six shots all of which met with there intended targets as even over the roaring of the fire on the floor above the others could hear the unmistakable sound of six bodies dropping lifelessly to the floor, she joined them presently, that is to say she bounded through the window and made her way up the burning staircase in the smoke filled house. This time it was Mal who swore as he staggered to his feet and prepared to cover her crazy arse.

When t