“Get your things together,” Zoe called as she marched through the halls of the Firefly Serenity. “River’s preppin’ the second shuttle right now.”

“Already done,” Jayne informed as he joined his temporary captain. “Can I bring grenades?”

“No!” Zoe exclaimed.

“Just kiddin’.”

As everyone but River and the captured Helen Hayze gathered, tense and questioning, in the cargo hold, Zoe stood before the crew. Even the cop, Park Nanaka, whom they’d kept under close watch until they’d found Gabriel and could safely release him, was in attendance, albeit unarmed. “Jayne,” she began, “there’s no question. You’re coming with me.”

“I thought as much,” Jayne professed.

Park’s hand rose. “I know I’m supposed to be a captive,” he began, lowering the arm, “and that I can’t be trusted, but... this man saved my life. Even if you can’t trust me, could you give me the opportunity to do the same in kind?”

Zoe arched an eyebrow at the Asian man. “Fine,” she decided finally. “But you don’t get a gun.” She then met the gaze of each and every person present. All were determined to board the research vessel and see to Gabriel. *Ain’t gonna argue,* she thought. *Just don’t feel like it.* “We’re goin’ in fast and hot,” she announced, leading them up the stairs and to the shuttle.

It was a short trip from Serenity to the medical ship. Shortly thereafter, a thump, followed by the sound of latches catching, signified the attachment of the shuttle to the med vessel. “There’s the seal,” she stated. “Gab’s been gone for two weeks, and we don’t know the situation, so I’m going in first. When he’s located, if he’s acting...” She couldn’t even finish the words. “...You shoot him without hesitation and with every bullet in your gun.” She clenched her jaw, straining speech through her teeth. “All of you.”

“That won’t be necessary,” River declared, rounding the corner from the flight cabin. She glided into the room, not with her normally bare feet, but with her knee-high combat boots tightly laced. “He bent. He bent very, very far. But