TITLE: "REANIMATION"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: MAL/RIVER.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "CANNON FODDER".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Zoe, Wash and Jayne cannot believe what Max

has to tell them. If true the nightmare scenario he paints is on

a scale that beggars belief. Meanwhile River is close to total

panic and Simon struggles to do what is right."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"REANIMATION"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Zoe didn't have words for how wrong this all felt. Though she did not know Max as well as she had known Tracey she found herself thinking back on all the hare brained schemes their friend had tried. Usually getting himself in the kind of *goushi* it took both Mal and herself to get him out of. Seemed like his older brother was cut from the same cloth. It was not a happy thought. Max watched her for a moment or two. "Where's Mal an' just how much trouble is he in?"

A strange reluctance came over her. It was weird, stupid even. They knew Max well so why was she hesitant? Jayne had no such reservation. "He's gone to fight in some gorram rebellion the *chunren baichi*."

Max finally took notice of Jayne. "How in the nine hells did he get suckered into that?"

Jayne snorted, amused despite the situation. He missed the steely look in Zoe's eyes but Wash didn't. Clem eased up but did not put his gun away. Relaxed he remained wary and Zoe made sure to track his movements on the catwalk without so much as tilting her head or looking up. Every instinct sharp and alert. Jayne seemed not to notice, enjoying the fact that he was now the one being looked to for information and only too