Disclaimers : Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation.

**Mousing over the Chinese should reveal the English translations on most browsers. If not, translations follow the story.

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“Mal?” Wash was attempting to simultaneously stage a battle with his dinosaurs and summon the captain over the ‘com—and so far T. Rex was having far better luck kicking brontosaurus butt than Wash was having locating Mal. It was the afternoon after the stop on Beylix, and the crew was back to business on the ship, on the final leg of the journey to Zargon.

Wash finally put down the dinosaurs and went looking. He was truly hopeful he would locate Mal before a knock on the door of the nurse’s room became necessary.

He found Mal in the infirmary, being tended to by Simon. He had finally gone to get the antibiotic injection Alex had recommended, although he was starting to feel better on his own. Wouldn’t hurt to play it safe, though.

“Got a ‘wave back from the prison,” Wash told him. He had alerted the prison they would arrive in the morning and were requesting permission to dock. The prison, as expected, was heavily guarded and extremely restricted as to who was allowed in. Mal knew they would be under intense scrutiny once they arrived, and wanted to make certain they were cleared well in advance.

“They need proof of Alex’s identity and credentials, and we will be scanned on approach.”

“Okay,” Mal said, getting off the table and buttoning his shirt. “Doc, you and River will disappear before we get scanned. I want you in the storage lockers, and I will definitely need River quiet, no matter what. Also, it might be a good idea to take your personal effects with you, in case we get boarded. Don’t need ‘em findin’ stuff in the rooms and askin’ questions.”

Simon nodded, used to the drill.

Alex came down the stairs.

“Alex, I need you to get your i-dent in hand and come up to the bridge